LANDOVER, Md. — Rob Gronkowski got his record, and the New England Patriots’ bend-but-don’t-break defense almost broke.
Gronkowski set the NFL single-season mark for touchdown catches by a tight end, and Jerod Mayo’s interception of a tipped pass with 22 seconds to play Sunday preserved the Patriots’ fifth straight win, 34-27 over the Washington Redskins.
Tom Brady completed 22-of-37 passes for 357 yards with three touchdowns — two to Gronkow-ski — and survived an interception in the end zone as the Patriots (10-3) won at Washington for the first time in franchise history. The Redskins were the only current NFL franchise New England had never beaten on the road.
Rex Grossman was 19-of-32 for 252 yards, and Roy Helu (126 yards) became the first Washington rookie to run for 100 yards in three straight games. But it wasn’t enough for the Redskins (4-9), who have lost eight of nine.
With the Patriots leading by seven in the fourth quarter, Brady had a chance to extend the lead, but he was picked off in the end zone by Josh Wilson with 6:30 to play. Afterward, Brady was involved in a heated exchange on the sideline with an assistant coach.
