Business as usual: Patriots’ young core unfazed by playoff pressure

Business as usual: Patriots’ young core unfazed by playoff pressure
Western Mass News
Article image

FOXBOROUGH, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - From the bottom of the league, to hosting the divisional round of the playoffs, this Patriots team has defied expectations all year. Even with arguably the top defense in football headed to Foxborough on Sunday, from the rookies to the vets, this locker room says, it’s business as usual.

“As a player, you try to take the same approach as a normal game. Because I mean, if there was something different you would do, you would do it during the regular season,” said player Anfernee Jennings.

Though as star defensive lineman Milton Williams told Western Mass News, business in the playoffs is booming, “it’s playoff time so, show up and show out. I told them boys you know, make a name for yourself. I tried to do that last year in Philly, that worked out for me. Y’all come in here, y’all can do the same thing.”

Rookie Charles Woods emphasized the message this week, is the same one they’ve been following all season, “the intensity is definitely there, but it’s nothing new. It’s still football, X’s and O’s at the end of the day. Just go out there and execute coach’s gameplan.”

One of the big question marks this week has surrounded star cornerback Christian Gonzalez following his entry into concussion protocol. We saw him firsthand take to the practice field in a red non-contact jersey, which is a positive sign for his availability come Sunday.

Copyright 2026 Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.

Read the Original Article

This article was originally published by Western Mass News. Click below to read the full article on their website.

Visit Western Mass News