FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots have done just fine without Rob Gronkowski.So far.

On Sunday, they’ll see whether that continues or if their valuable tight end’s absence will keep them from a second straight Super Bowl appearance.

“Certainly, Rob is a unique player and he has some skills that allow you to do special things with him,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Monday.

Michael Hoomanawanui filled in well enough after Gronkowski broke his left arm on the Patriots’ seventh offensive play of their 41-28 win over the Houston Texans in Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff game.

He’ll probably do it again in the conference championship game against the Ray Lewisled defense of the Baltimore Ravens following Gronkowski’s season-ending surgery Monday.

Hoomanawanui didn’t catch any passes. But Gronkowski, who had 90 receptions last season and 55 in 11 games this season, had no catches in the Patriots’ two games against Houston this season. And they dominated both contests.

Gronkowski broke his left forearm while blocking on an extra point late in a 59-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 18. He sat out the rest of Sunday’s game after breaking his arm when he landed on it after catching a pass down the right sideline by Tom Brady that was ruled incomplete because Gronkowski didn’t get both feet inbounds.

He had surgery on Monday, a person with knowledge of the operation said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the surgery.

The Patriots were 7-3 before Gronkowski was injured then went 4-1 without him. He returned for the regular-season finale, a 28-0 win over the Miami Dolphins.