FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots have grown accustomed to playing the role of front-runner in the AFC East under Bill Belichick.
But at 2-4 for the first time since 2000 and in their first season without Tom Brady since he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team that has won 11 straight division crowns has quickly embraced the role of the chaser as it prepares to visit division-leading Buffalo.
That’s meant making an adjustment in attitude as much as X’s and O’s this week.
“Right now we’d be crazy to think coming into the game that we’re the team to beat,” safety Devin McCourty said.