<\/p>\n
As the Patriots get set for their first playoff game under head coach Mike Vrabel, the coach\u2019s message has been simple: don\u2019t go away from what has been working.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat coach was preaching was just don\u2019t change our process, our preparation throughout the week \u2014 what we\u2019ve been doing,\u201d quarterback Drake Maye said. \u201cI think the natural thing is to get a little more amped as a human for a big game. Just trust what you\u2019ve been doing\u2026 Don\u2019t do thing out of the ordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Or according to wide receiver Stefon Diggs, don\u2019t switch the macaroni and cheese.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t try to go and make new macaroni,\u201d Diggs said Wednesday. \u201cWe\u2019re not going in with the new macaroni. You\u2019re just going in with that same thought process and just trying to tighten up a little bit, far as putting a little bit of extra time on your body or putting a little bit of extra time on film or whatever it is that\u2019s going to help you get an edge.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still football. It\u2019s still the game that you\u2019ve been playing for a long time, however you\u2019ve been playing. I\u2019ve been playing since I was five. So try not to make it more than what it is. But that attention to detail will take you further. Going the extra mile in certain areas, you never know how much it can help you but that is your edge. No secret recipe for it. You have an identity. Stick by that identity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Patriots have adopted an identity led by effort and finish under Vrabel in his first season in charge. That has led them to 14 wins and an AFC East Championship en route to putting the Patriots back in the playoffs for the first time since 2021.<\/p>\n
The success behind that identity is exactly why they do not want to switch the macaroni and cheese.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe analogy came from somebody on Thanksgiving,\u201d Diggs said last week. \u201cThey came to their family gathering and they made new mac and cheese. They said, \u2018don\u2019t trial and error on our day.\u2019 So, same recipe. Don\u2019t change the mac and cheese.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Diggs is among the few on New England\u2019s roster with playoff experience, Sunday night will mark the first go-around for a majority of the team. That will include Maye, who will make his first career playoff.<\/p>\n
The veteran receiver is expecting the same version of the 23-year old MVP candidate that he saw throughout the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo new macaroni. I expect to see the same play, if not him doing more. Whatever duty calls or whatever the job calls for, he\u2019s been consistent,\u201d Diggs said. \u201cI\u2019m excited for Drake though. Another stage for him to shine. He\u2019s a good quarterback. He\u2019s been a good quarterback. He\u2019s an MVP talent, MVP in my opinion. I won\u2019t say too much about it, but I\u2019m excited for a lot of guys. It\u2019s a lot of guys\u2019 first time in the playoffs. Here we go.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Patriots will host the Chargers in the wild card round of the playoffs on Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":41254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-england-patriots"],"yoast_head":"\n