Pats take on division rival Jets on Thanksgiving

UNDATED (WHDH) -- The bird's in the oven, the table is set, and the stakes are starting to rise for the Patriots and the rest of the NFL.

"Especially as you get closer to Thanksgiving, and this one's actually on Thanksgiving, and they're all big," said Wes Welker.

Even bigger for the Pats playing without Rob Gronkowski, but shaking off a short week of rest and the bumps and bruises that come with it, is easier than you think.

"Shoot -- I like to play football every day, if my body would let me, so you gotta rush to cram a lot in with the meetings, film, massages, things like that, but once you get out there and the ball is kicked off, your body will be re-adjusted to what's going on," said Kyle Arrington.

"We could be playing in front of nobody -- when another team line up across from you, you'll be over that soreness," said Aqib Talib.

That "other team" is gang green -- who, despite their struggles at 4-6, will still find a way to give Tom Brady and friends fits.

"They always seem to play us well. There’s been one game where we beat them up pretty well a few years ago, but other than that, they've all been pretty tight games. That’s just the way it is against the Jets," Tom Brady said.