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The New England Patriots entered Week 7 with a long list of injured players. Despite issues bothering key offensive playmakers such as Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker, they (and others) were able to play as the Pats defeated the Jets, 29-26, in overtime.
Gronkowski has been battling a hip injury all season and was yet to look like the breakout star he was in 2011. But on Sunday, he ended up hauling in six passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
Hernandez missed multiple weeks with an ankle injury, and despite being limited on Sunday, he still managed to record five catches for 54 yards. Wes Welker was hit hard by the Seahawks last week and was also listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but the veteran receiver ended up playing anyway. Welker had six receptions for 66 yards and was second on the team with eight targets.
On the defensive side of the ball, rookie linebacker Dont'a Hightower played very well despite hamstring issues that limited him in practice all week. Hightower recorded seven tackles, a sack and hit quarterback Mark Sanchez multiple times.