Offense in need of grand scheme

FOXBORO — Tom Brady and the Patriots are known for making adjustments. The team’s offensive and defensive schemes change week-to-week based on each matchup. Brady adjusts at the line of scrimmage based on what he sees from the defense.

In the end, typically the team that adjusts the best is the one that succeeds. “Adjustment” has taken on a new meaning now that the Patriots will be without Rob Gronkowski until next season. Brady & Co. got past the Rams last Sunday, but will face arguably their toughest test to date on Monday night in the Baltimore Ravens.

By several measures, the Ravens have the No. 1 defense in the NFL.

“Every game, we’re learning different things,” Brady said. “I think that goes all the way throughout the year because your team changes a lot over the course of a season with injuries and adjustments and schemes. You have to adjust when Gronk goes down. You have to adjust when Dion Lewis comes back. You have to adjust when Danny [Amendola] goes out. It’s constant adjustment and trying to build on certain things and adjust to certain things. Ultimately, you’re still trying to move the ball down the field and score points.”

With Gronkowski out for the season after back surgery last week, the Patriots have four more games to acclimate themselves to life without him before the playoffs arrive.

We got a glimpse of a Gronk-less Patriots offense last Sunday. New England got big contributions from Julian Edelman (eight catches for 101 yards), Malcolm Mitchell (eight catches for 82 yards) and LeGarrette Blount (88 rushing yards and a touchdown). That type of performance will have to continue. Of course, success against the Rams and success against the Ravens are two different things.

Baltimore’s defense is ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed per game

(269.1), first in rush yards per game (73.8) and seventh in pass yards per game

(222.3). The Ravens are also tied with the Patriots for second in the league in points per game allowed (17.3).

“They’re the first-rated defense in the league so no one’s done a better job over the course of the season than them,” Brady said. “I think they do things really well in a lot of areas. They’re good in first-down defense. Good in third-down defense, third and short. Good on the goal line. Good in the red area. They contest every yard. I think that’s the mark of a good defense. They don’t give you anything easy. You’ve got to go out and earn it.

“I think they do a good mix with their scheme and also their personnel. We’re prepared for a 60-minute game and that’s what we’re practicing for… We know it’s going to be a good tough matchup.”

The next two weeks will be the toughest stretch for the Patriots this season. After playing the Ravens, the Patriots will take on the Broncos in Denver on a short week. The Broncos have the sixth ranked-defense in the NFL.

After that, the Patriots will have a good idea where their offense stands. Right now there are a lot of question marks.

Aside from the loss of Gronkowski, the Patriots are dealing with several injuries. Brady (knee), Julian Edelman (foot), Martellus Bennett (ankle/shoulder) and Chris Hogan (back) have been on the mend. The team also won’t have Amendola (ankle) until the playoffs.

“This is a big challenge for us,” Brady said. “[The Ravens have been] one of the great teams in the AFC consistently over a long period time. They’ve got a great defense. They always have had a great defense, so they challenge you in a lot of ways with some good scheme stuff and a lot of really good players. This is an important week for us and I think Coach [Bill Belichick] has tried to put a lot of urgency on our team and we feel it.”