Stephen Gostkowski

Stephen Gostkowski , Shaun Ellis , Zoltan Mesko , Kyle Hix , Ryan Mallett , and Matt Slater were among the Pats who participated in Tuesday's "Hometown Huddle" event for kids at Gillette Stadium. The day of fitness, which was cohosted by the Patriots, United Way, and the NFL, had athletes exercising with about 300 youngsters from around New England.

INDIANAPOLIS - It's not about revenge. There's nothing the Patriots can do tonight that will change what happened in the desert against these same Giants four years ago. Most of the players from that game have moved on. This Super Bowl has zero connection to Super Bowl XLII, when Elisha Nelson Manning broke New England's heart and killed dreams of perfection and immortality. Baloney. Rubbish. Nonsense. Lies, lies, lies. This is all about revenge. It's about driving a Rolls-Royce to your high school reunion and laughing at the cheerleader who ruined your life when she wouldn't go out with...

By Joe Sullivan, Globe Staff Statistically, especially on the offense, there were some positives for the Patriots. Quarterback Tom Brady, of course. He threw for 387 yards, not a bad follow-up to his first two games, when he threw for 517 against the Dolphins and 423 against the Chargers. Rookie running back Stevan Ridley gained 44 yards on seven carries, a 6.3 average. Julian Edelman averaged 10.3 yards on three punt returns. Stephen Gostkowski boomed six kickoffs into the end zone.

A group of wives of New England Patriots players and coaches read to students last month at the South Shore Stars' Weymouth preschool. The visit was part of Stars' RISE (Reading Is So Exciting) literacy program. Joining the children for a morning of reading and craft activities were Shawn O'Brien, wife of special teams coach Scott O'Brien; Beverly Fears, wife of running back coach Ivan Fears; and Hallie Gostkowski, wife of Patriots' kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Stars executive director Sheri Adlin said the visit was organized by the United Way and the New England Patriots Foundation as part of this...

A group of wives of New England Patriots players and coaches read to students last month at the South Shore Stars' Weymouth preschool. The visit was part of Stars' RISE (Reading Is So Exciting) literacy program. Joining the children for a morning of reading and craft activities were Shawn O'Brien, wife of special teams coach Scott O'Brien; Beverly Fears, wife of running back coach Ivan Fears; and Hallie Gostkowski, wife of Patriots' kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Stars executive director Sheri Adlin said the visit was organized by the United Way and the New England Patriots Foundation as part of this...

By Zuri Berry, Globe Staff FOXBOROUGH -- Eli Manning orchestrated a game-winning touchdown drive, throwing a 1-yard TD pass to Jake Ballard with 15 seconds left as the Giants beat the Patriots, 24-20. Manning was 20 of 39 for 250 yards and two touchdowns, besting Tom Brady, who had put the Patriots ahead with 1:36 remaining on a 14-yard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski. Brady finished 28 of 49 for 342 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Patriots fell to 5-3 and into a tie for first with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots were held scoreless in the first half against the Giants after Stephen Gostkowski missed a 27-yard field in the final seconds. The last time that happened was Dec. 12, 2006 at Miami -- a game the Patriots lost, 21-0. The Patriots' offensive line has to play better for the offense to have a chance. The run blocking has been subpar. Tom Brady isn't being given a clean pocket to operate in. He's hardly had a throw when he's not under pressure.

By Chad Finn, Boston.com Staff FOXBOROUGH -- Vince Wilfork is in his eighth season in the NFL. Yesterday marked the 108th regular-season game of the defensive tackle's career. He's accomplished some noteworthy individual feats, having earned three Pro Bowl selections, three second-team All-Pro selections, and the reputation as one of the finest run-stuffers of his era. But until yesterday, he'd never lived the defensive lineman's ultimate football dream: Picking off a pass in an NFL game.

The Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski connection kept clicking. The New England Patriots' defense and special teams kept rolling, too. Brady threw two touchdown passes to Gronkowski, Julian Edelman returned a punt 72 yards for another score and Kyle Arrington had two interceptions to help the Patriots beat the Kansas City Chiefs 34-3 on Monday night. The Patriots (7-3) increased their AFC East lead to two games. The Chiefs (4-6) weren't expected to do much on offense behind untested quarterback Tyler Palko, making his first career start...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J -- It wasn't the prettiest win, but the Patriots will take it. Tom Brady threw for 329 yards on 26 of 39 passing and three touchdowns as the Patriots beat the New York Jets 37-16. Rob Gronkowski caught eight passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. LB Rob Ninkovich picked off Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and returned it for a touchdown. Patriots DE Andre Carter recorded a franchise record 4.5 sacks in the game. 7:45 4th quarter: Patriots 37, Jets 16 -- Rob Ninkovich intercepted Mark Sanchez again and broke loose for a pick six. It...

INDIANAPOLIS — It's not about revenge. There's nothing the Patriots can do tonight that will change what happened in the desert against these same Giants four years ago. Most of the players from that game have moved on. This Super Bowl has zero connection to Super Bowl XLII, when Elisha Nelson Manning broke New England's heart and killed dreams of perfection and immortality. Baloney. Rubbish. Nonsense. Lies, lies, lies. This is all about revenge. It's about driving a Rolls-Royce to your high school reunion and laughing at the cheerleader who ruined your life when...

INDIANAPOLIS - The statistics show that Stephen Gostkowski has been a better kicker than Adam Vinatieri over the last six years. He has made a higher percentage of field goals in his career and missed only one extra point. Since Vinatieri left the Patriots for the Colts as a free agent following the 2005 season, Gostkowski has made 84.4 percent of his field goals and Vinatieri 82.9 percent. The trend holds in the postseason. Gostkowski has made close to 87 percent of his field goals and Vinatieri a little more than 83 percent.

INDIANAPOLIS - The statistics show that Stephen Gostkowski has been a better kicker than Adam Vinatieri over the last six years. He has made a higher percentage of field goals in his career and missed only one extra point. Since Vinatieri left the Patriots for the Colts as a free agent following the 2005 season, Gostkowski has made 84.4 percent of his field goals and Vinatieri 82.9 percent. The trend holds in the postseason. Gostkowski has made close to 87 percent of his field goals and Vinatieri a little more than 83 percent.

Where will the key battles be in Super Bowl XLVI between the Patriots and Giants? The Boston Globe looks at some of the matchups that could prove critical: QUARTERBACK Patriots: The Patriots ranked second in the NFL in passing offense, although Tom Brady was admittedly less than stellar in the AFC Championship. Still, he passed for more then 5,000 yards in 2011. Giants: While his brother Peyton, the Colts' quarterback, missed all of the regular season, Eli Manning has stepped into the spotlight and lived up to his candid preseason remarks that he is an...

FOXBOROUGH - Two kicks, two results, two very different sideline reactions. One conclusion: Being a placekicker in the NFL comes with a whole bunch of stress. Lonely, isolated, subjected to long-held whispers that they're not really part of the team, kickers exist for one simple reason. They try to send the ball through the uprights, often with the outcome of a game at stake. Succeed at the right moment and a kicker might never be forgotten. Fail at the wrong moment and a kicker also might never be forgotten.

FOXBOROUGH - Two kicks, two results, two very different sideline reactions. One conclusion: Being a placekicker in the NFL comes with a whole bunch of stress. Lonely, isolated, subjected to long-held whispers that they're not really part of the team, kickers exist for one simple reason. They try to send the ball through the uprights, often with the outcome of a game at stake. Succeed at the right moment and a kicker might never be forgotten. Fail at the wrong moment and a kicker also might never be forgotten.

PITTSBURGH - Four false starts, three sacks allowed, and additional pressure on Tom Brady equated to a horrendous game yesterday for the Patriots' offensive line in a 25-17 loss to the Steelers. "Just not concentrating enough on our part," said right guard Brian Waters. "And not just on the false starts, but on some of our, I guess, mental errors as far as some of our plays. " Right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who returned after missing four games with a back injury, gave up two sacks, including a strip of Brady that resulted in a safety on the Patriots' final offensive play.

By Chad Finn, Globe Staff Three quick thoughts while watching Ed Reed run like he's seriously favoring his ankle in warmups. Hmmm. Probably just gamesmanship, right? . . . 1. Patriots have to negate Ngata: It's a tired angle at this point, but it's also the truth. If the Ravens are going to slow the Patriots' prolific passing game, they need to get pressure on Tom Brady and make him uncomfortable. The Patriots quarterback struggles (by his standards)