New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick isn’t looking past Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills, despite clinching the all-important No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
Belichick seemed unaffected by his team solidifying home-field advantage throughout the playoffs when the Denver Broncos lost to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.
“I don’t think it really has a big effect on what we’ve been doing — just keep getting ready for Buffalo,” Belichick said Tuesday. “That’s what our challenge is here. Whatever our position is, it is. That will all take care of itself in due course. It doesn’t really have anything to do with right now.”
The Patriots have the option of resting starters Sunday, since the game means nothing. It’s probably not worth risking injury to important starters such as quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski and cornerback Darrelle Revis, or players recovering from ailments, such as wide receiver Julian Edelman (concussion), linebacker Dont’a Hightower (shoulder), cornerback Kyle Arrington (hamstring) or defensive end Chandler Jones (hip).
Belichick wasn’t giving the Bills any hints about how the Patriots will approach this week, however.
“We’ll do the same thing we always do,” Belichick said. “It won’t be any different this week than it’s been any other week. It won’t be any different this year than any other year. We’ll do what we feel is best for our football team. Period. Whatever’s best for our team, that’s what we’ll try to do.”
Perhaps that means rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who has taken just 34 snaps this season, will show Patriots fans a glimpse of the future. Garoppolo is 9-of-10 passing for 92 yards and one touchdown in five games.
Thumbnail photo via Stephan Savoia/Associated Press
