The New England Patriots will jumpstart their 2013-14 NFL after losing some of their offensive weapons from last year with a road season opener against the Buffalo Bills at 1:00 p.m. ET.
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Via ESPN:
Tom Brady and the Patriots look to begin a march to their 10th AFC East title in 11 years Sunday when they visit first-year coach Doug Marrone and the Bills, who are aiming to end the NFL's longest playoff drought.
After finishing 12-4 and falling 28-13 to Baltimore in the 2012 AFC championship game, New England could be without its top five pass-catchers from that squad.
Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd, who combined for 192 catches last year, and Danny Woodhead are gone, while Aaron Hernandez was released following his stunning June arrest on a murder charge.
Rob Gronkowski has been practicing with the team after forearm and back surgeries, but the tight end didn't play in the preseason and isn't likely to play Sunday.
"I'm preparing every single day to the max of my ability, preparing every day to (do) the best I can," Gronkowski said. "And when my number's called, that's when I'll play. I can't tell you when that will be."
Free agent acquisition Danny Amendola has been battling a groin injury but is expected to be ready for the opener. Amendola had a career-high 85 catches while with St. Louis in his last full season in 2010 and is one of the veterans the Patriots are counting on, along with Julian Edelman.
Three rookies -- free agent Kenbrell Thompkins and draft choices Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce -- may also help fill the void at wideout, while free agent rookie Zach Sudfeld and veterans Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew Mulligan could step in at tight end.
A lack of reliable options, however, could make it difficult for Brady to put up another big year. The two-time NFL MVP completed 401 of 637 passes for 4,827 yards with 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2012, finishing just shy of back-to-back 5,000-yard seasons.
