Copyright The Boston Globe
“Some people hate Thursdays. Some people love them,” said veteran center Garrett Bradbury. “The nice thing is, you do have that weekend off after, so there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel for your body. “But, yeah, we’ve got to be all hands on deck, and ready to work for the next couple of weeks.” No one will shed any tears for the Patriots, at least as it relates to their historically easy schedule. But the fact remains, this stretch is a test of mental and physical toughness. For a young roster that has responded well to the challenges of the first half of the season — including wins in three consecutive road games last month — the veterans in the locker room sound confident the Patriots will be able to meet the moment. “I’ve done this before,” said Bradbury, who is in his seventh NFL season. “You’ve got to take it one day at a time. Thankfully, this next week will be a normal week. We have a Sunday game, rest and recover, and figure out the corrections we make [Monday]. And then it’s Tuesday, and then Wednesday, we’re on to the next game. And the Thursday night game is its own special animal. [Coach Mike Vrabel has] been through this before, and so he’ll have a good plan for us.” The priority for players is clear: Maximize your time, both at home and at the facility. Pay extra attention to your body maintenance, whether that’s massages, diet, cryotherapy, and hot and cold tubs. You also have to get your mind right. For a young team that remains in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, every snap matters. Like Bradbury, veteran receiver Mack Hollins said the key to thriving in this stretch is to rely on steadiness and consistency. “Play it one at a time,” Hollins said. “I think it’s tough to look ahead and say, ‘Oh, well, how do I need to prepare for the third game or the second game?’ Let sports medicine or sports science do that stuff and make sure you’re ready for whatever game it is. If we have a game tomorrow, prepare for the game tomorrow. Don’t worry about the game a week from now or two weeks from now, wherever and whenever that is.” “Just taking care of your body and obviously knowing what’s up in front of you,” said veteran right tackle Morgan Moses of the message to the younger players. “Obviously, nobody really cares about how you feel. You just want to get on the field and be able to operate the way you need to operate. “We’re looking forward to it. We’ve been on the road for three games before these last two games at home. And so, you know, one thing [Vrabel] talks about is packing the identity and traveling with that identity from home to away games. And we’re ready to do that again.” If the Patriots get through this three-game stretch unscathed, they’ll be set up nicely for the stretch drive. They’ll have a couple of extra days to prepare for the Bengals on Nov. 23, followed by a home game against the Giants on Monday night, Dec. 1, and then a bye week in early December. But that’s down the road. Right now, according to veteran receiver Stefon Diggs, these next couple of weeks should spark questions in every player. “Are we doing everything [we] can?” said Diggs. “Am I running the routes at the right depth? Am I doing this? “Just stay hungry. Just try to keep your eyes in front of you. I’m saying that because your work is in front of you and we have another test in front of us. Let’s get back to the lab. Let’s watch the tape. Let’s figure out how we can be better, and get after it.”
