Patriots followers pumped as NFL playoffs return to Gillette Stadium: ‘Already winners’
For the primary time for the reason that Tom Brady-Invoice Belichick period, playoff soccer has returned to Foxboro, because the parking heaps round Gillette Stadium become a rocking social gathering hours earlier than kickoff.
Smoke from grills billowed into the air, whereas followers tossed footballs, performed cornhole, and huddled round televisions as they tracked the Eagles-49ers NFC tilt. Transportable fireplaces offered heat as temperatures dipped into the night time.
The scene, after the Patriots completed at a shocking 14-3 within the common season, was six years within the making.
The final time New England hosted a playoff recreation? A Mike Vrabel-led Titans group flew into Foxboro from Tennessee to beat Brady and Belichick within the legendary duo’s final playoff recreation collectively on Jan. 4, 2020.
Patriots followers voiced confidence that Vrabel, in his first 12 months as head coach, and MVP-contending quarterback Drake Maye, would do sufficient towards the Chargers to maneuver on to subsequent week’s Divisional Spherical.
Glen DeCecco, a former state command sergeant main of the Rhode Island Nationwide Guard, took within the ambiance together with his pal, Joe Forge, throughout Route 1, three hours earlier than the Wild Card matchup kicked off.
DeCecco, a Patriots fan for the reason that Nineteen Eighties, bought a minibus in 2018 that he has since transformed right into a automobile filled with group merchandise, reflecting his dedication to the group. He felt an “absolute win” coming for the house group.
“It appears like we lastly turned the nook,” DeCecco advised the Herald. “I imply, it doesn’t matter what occurs — win, lose, or draw — at this level, we’re already winners. I can’t wait to see how this ends for our Patriots, after which what we’re going to deliver subsequent 12 months to the desk.”
Throughout the car parking zone, Brian Babz, a self-proclaimed “Chief of Patriots Nation,” rocked a “I (coronary heart) Drake Maye” t-shirt, smiling from ear to ear whereas describing the way it felt “wonderful” to have playoff soccer again in Foxboro.
Babz’s Instagram account has 46,000 followers. All through the season, he tracks the Patriots and their standing towards a “crimson line,” which he makes use of to measure whether or not the group is within the playoff image or not.
The previous two seasons proved tumultuous, with New England ending 4-13 annually. This season? Babz didn’t have a lot to fret about, because the Patriots stunned him with a 14-3 report, claiming the AFC East title.
Babz declared that the Patriots can be “really again” in the event that they beat the Chargers within the Sunday Night time Soccer playoff conflict. The tremendous fan additionally mirrored on the group connection between the followers and the franchise.
“Robert Kraft has at all times cared about his followers, and he’s at all times cared about giving again to the group,” Babz mentioned. “And I do really feel unhealthy for him as a result of I booed him the final two seasons.”
“However that was me as a fan saying, ‘Hey, we have to flip this round. We have to see a greater product on the sector,” he added. “However Robert Kraft has at all times executed nice on this group. Now the Patriots are successful once more, they usually’re again on the highest.”
Exterior of Gillette, followers waited in strains to get into bars at Patriot Place for pregame festivities. Others arrange tents and relaxed as they ready to move into the stadium, together with the DiFrumolo household from Woburn.
“That is the perfect stadium at night time. The very best,” Nancy DiFrumolo, a season-ticket holder of 35 years, mentioned, alongside her husband, Tony, and their grownup kids, Danielle and David. “Through the day, it’s nice, however nighttime is the perfect.”
