FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in football because of his unique blend of size and speed, but also because of how hard he works at it.

So the Patriots’ star respects opponents like the Baltimore Ravens who have the same qualities.

“They bring it, that’s what impresses the most,” Gronkowski said of the Ravens, who will visit Gillette Stadium for Saturday’s divisional playoff game. “It’s not just one play or two plays, they bring it every play. So you’ve got to be ready.”

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski was one of two unanimous selections on the 2014 Associated Press All-Pro team, along with Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt. Gronkowski caught 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns from Tom Brady this season. He is as pivotal as anyone to the Patriots’ fortunes.

But he said repeatedly after practice Tuesday that this game week is no different from the previous 16, despite the elevated stakes.

“We’re trying to stick together as one, execute, everyone on the same page, the chemistry the same between the receivers, the quarterbacks, the linemen,” said Gronkowski, who missed last year’s playoffs with a knee injury.

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“It’s just awesome being a part of it. You can’t take it for granted. You’ve got to work your tail off and keep playing hard.”

Gronkowski is on a regional cover of Sports Illustrated this week.

Patriots fans have to be hoping that doesn’t qualify for the cover jinx. When he was shown a picture of the cover, he exlaimed: “Sweet!”

EVERY PATRIOTS’ player was present at practice Tuesday, including wide receiver Brandon LaFell, who missed two practices last week with a lower leg injury suffered in the season finale against Buffalo.

It was cold with a light snow falling as the team practiced in full pads.

All of the other Patriots who have been recovering from injuries also practiced, including wide receiver Julian Edelman, left guard Dan Connolly, right tackle Sebastian Vollmer and cornerback Kyle Arrington.

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TWO OF the winningest playoff quarterbacks in history are meeting in Saturday’s game.

Baltimore’s Joe Flacco has the fifth-highest playoff winning percentage (.714, 10-4) for quarterbacks with at least 10 starts. Brady, meanwhile, is tied for seventh on the list at .692 (18-8) with Kurt Warner (9-4). Green Bay’s Bart Starr tops the list with a .900 winning percentage (9-1).

Brady’s 18 playoff wins are the most all-time in the NFL.

THE RAVENS have the most playoff wins (10) since 2008, double that of the next-best teams. Green Bay, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Seattle each have five. The Patriots have won only four playoff games since 2008.

This is the sixth consecutive year the Ravens and Patriots play, which prompted Patriots Coach Bill Belichick to say, “I feel like we’re back in the division,” at his Tuesday news conference.

The Patriots won three of the previous five meetings, but Baltimore has two playoff victories over the Patriots at Gillette Stadium: 2009 wildcard (33-14) and 2012 AFC Championship game (28-13).

New England won a 2013 regular-season meeting in Baltimore, 41-7.

The other two games were both ended 23-20, the Patriots winning the 2011 AFC Championship and a 2010 regular-season game at Gillette in overtime.


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