Gronkowski glad to play grinch

Patriots star in mean mood against hometown club that rejected him

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts - Rob Gronkowski has always been proud of his roots growing up outside of Buffalo.

He also has never forgotten how his hometown team didn't want him.

Tom Brady passed for a pair of touchdowns, including Gronkowski's one-handed grab, and the New England Patriots stayed on track for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a 37-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

For Gronkowski it was his 12th touchdown catch in 13 games against the Bills - more than he's had against any other opponent.

"It's cool when your hometown team passed on you twice in that (2010) draft. And you kind of remember it still," Gronkowski said. "No lie, I remember it every single time I play them."

New England (12-3) locked up a first-round bye with Jacksonville's 44-33 loss at San Francisco. If Pittsburgh loses to Houston on Monday, the Patriots will secure homefield advantage throughout the postseason.

Dion Lewis caught a touchdown pass and rushed for a four-yard score. He carried 24 times for a career-high 129 yards. It was just his second-career 100-yard game. Mike Gillislee, active for the first time in six games, added a one-yard rushing touchdown

Even with the loss, the Bills (8-7) remain in contention to break their 17-year playoff drought. It is the longest active streak in North America's four major professional sports and the longest in the NFL since the 1970 merger.

New England has won at least 12 games in eight straight seasons - an NFL record.

Buffalo went into halftime tied at 13, but the Bills managed just three points in the final 30 minutes.

Trailing 13-10, Buffalo was in position to take the lead, but a four-yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor to Kelvin Benjamin in the corner of the end zone was overturned after an official review.