Patriots prep for post-season kickoff

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (WHDH) -- The Patriots have been focused all week, but the mood was light at practice on Friday.

The players joked around and danced to music in the locker room, all signs of a team ready to get their post season started.

“We’re going to use the next little over 48 hours or so to get totally focused on the task at hand,” said Coach Bill Belichick.

As time winds down, the Patriots are pumped up for the playoffs.

“We love playing and we can’t wait to get back to it so that’s what I’m looking forward to, definitely,” said Nate Soldier, Patriots offensive tackle.

“Team’s excited, ready to go, we’re ready to play some football,” said Stevan Ridley, Patriots running back.

With a high level of excitement, there’s also a high level of expectations.

“This is what we prepare for all year and we got three games, man. We got three games, but it starts with one this Sunday,” said Ridley.

“We’re in a one-game season, so if we all perform well on Sunday our season can extend and if we don’t, it won’t,” said Belichick.

If the Patriots want to extend their season, they know an extra week of practice won’t be enough to lean on.

“When you talk to the Navy SEALS and those guys about when they go on a mission, they talk about, alright so we get there and we practiced going over a 6-foot wall and the wall is 30 feet high, well, that’s the way it is in the NFL,” said Belichick.

With a slow start, plus injuries, this season has been unpredictable for the Patriots, but has made them who they are going into Sunday’s game.

“It all comes down to this and so we fought all those battles, we’ve gone down a long road and now we’re one of the final eight teams in the National Football League this year,” said Belichick.