Patriots brace for battle

REX Burkhead and the New England Patriots vow to display their playoff mentality against the Buffalo Bills. AFP

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick warned his team to treat Saturday’s clash with the Buffalo Bills like a playoff game as they attempt to clinch an 11th straight divisional title.

The Patriots will be assured of top spot in the American Football Conference East once again if they take care of business against a dangerous Bills side, which have already booked its ticket to the postseason.

In previous seasons during the Belichick era, a visit to Gillette Stadium by the Bills has been regarded as a foregone conclusion for the Patriots.

Quarterback Tom Brady has never lost a home game against the Bills when he has played in all four quarters, and is an incredible 31-3 against Buffalo throughout his career overall.

But the game at Foxborough, the penultimate round of the regular season, has more than a whiff of potential upset about it.

The Bills arrive with a respectable 10-4 record, and only narrowly lost to the Patriots in their home game earlier this season, going down 16-10.

Head coach Sean McDermott’s side also has the third best defense in the National Football League — a red flag for Belichick given the Patriots recent offensive problems — and an increasingly reliable quarterback in the shape of Josh Allen.

Throw in the fact that the Bills are 6-1 away from home this season, and it is easy to see why Belichick is taking nothing for granted.

“We know we’ll have to play our best game to win, that’s what we’ll try to do,” Belichick said, agreeing that the Patriots were preparing for the game with a postseason mentality.

“Absolutely,” Belichick said Thursday. “That’s what we’re here for. You work all year to put yourself in a position to play in a game like this where you can win the division.

“You couldn’t say that in week four, or week six, or week eight. Well, we’re saying that now. So now is the time for us to play and coach our best football. That’s what we’re all here for.”

Belichick would not be drawn on the speculation surrounding Brady’s form. The 42-year-old quarterback’s pass completion rate has fallen sharply in recent weeks, averaging 56 percent over the past five games.

“We’re really focused on this Buffalo game,” Belichick said. “Looking at statistics, numbers is not where we’re at,” he added.

Brady, meanwhile, insists the only statistic that matters is the final scoreline.

“You want to go out and throw touchdowns, because that means points. You want to throw for yards, because that means production and the opportunity to score points,” the quarterback said this week.

“But at the same time, the object of the game is to win. However you do it, that’s why we’re playing. I feel like there’s more statistics now than there’s ever been. But in the end, the one for me that matters the most is winning.”