Mike Gesicki, New England Patriots Celebrate National Tight End Day!

Headlined by Mike Gesicki's game-winner, the New England Patriots' tight ends' efforts paved the way for an upset victory over the Buffalo Bills.

The New England Patriots were home for the holiday.

Foxborough threw perhaps the most festive celebration for National Tight End Day, which was commemorated throughout the NFL during Sunday's Week 7 action. With guests gathered at Gillette Stadium, New England offered the most memorable party favor with a one-yard, game-winning Mac Jones touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki with 12 seconds remaining, one that put the Patriots on the right side of a shocking 29-25 decision over the Buffalo Bills.

Gesicki, a former Patriots public enemy as a member of the Miami Dolphins, perhaps couldn't have found better timing for his first New England end zone visit. It was the capper of an eight-play, 75-yard drive that followed Buffalo's apparent erasure of a two-possession New England lead and served as the ending of a dire three-game losing streak. 

Mike Gesicki (second from left) engages in the "most embarrassing" Griddy celebration after guiding the Patriots to a winning score / USA TODAY SPORTS

"Once the ball was on the one-yard line (offensive coordinator) Bill O’Brien called that specific personnel to get me on the field," Gesicki recalled, per Mike Kadlick of Audacy. "I kind of had a feeling that he was putting me out there for a reason and I was going to have a chance to make a play to ultimately win the game.”

That reason manifested in a game-winning score, with 19th touchdown of Gesicki's career. Since entering the league as a second-round pick of Miami's out of Penn State in 2019, he has had a knack for impactful grabs. Last season, his last of five with the Dolphins, 19 of his 32 receptions produced first downs.

Gesicki capped things off with a "Griddy" celebration, whose artistic qualities left much to be desired in the wake of Foxborough euphoria. The tight end is well-aware that, once reality returns, that he'll be thoroughly panned for his post-touchdown joy. 

“It was cool to be able to go out there and make that play and then do the world’s fastest and probably most embarrassing gritty,” Gesicki said. “So that was fun. I can’t wait to see a replay of that and see all the mentions of me on my Instagram of me getting just absolutely harassed by fans.”

Gesicki wasn't the only tight end to celebrate the holiday in style: Pharoah Brown, the scoreboard hero from the Week 3 victory over the New York Jets, hauled in a pair of reception for 51 yards while Hunter Henry had 27 on his own couple. Henry's latter catch was a 14-yard grab on an eight-yard third down during the final minute, one that put New England (2-5) at the cusp of the Buffalo red zone with just over 40 seconds to go.

As the Patriots were driving toward unexpected glory, Gesicki playfully declared that reminded the embattled Jones of the holiday implications in he pre-score huddle.

“We got in the huddle, and I was like, ‘Mac, it’s National Tight End’s Day, throw me the ball,’” Gesicki said. "No that actually didn’t happen. But I do appreciate him throwing me the ball.”

Gesicki faces a familiar foe as the Patriots seek to generate a winning streak, as they'll head to South Beach for a tilt against the AFC East-leading Dolphins next Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

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