FOXBORO -- Sunday is what some like to call a "hat and t-shirt game" for the Patriots.
With a win in Miami over the Dolphins, New England can clinch the AFC East title. And as a result, they'll each receive a hat and a t-shirt that reads, "Division Champs."
At least one Patriot acknowledged that to be true, after Thursday's practice at Gillette Stadium.
"Hats and t-shirts, absolutely," said Vince Wilfork. "You kiddin' me?"
Wilfork says he gives those hats and t-shirts to his wife. But he also knows they won't be getting them without a win. Which is when the veteran defensive lineman got back into his Patriots mindset, saying that he won't be thinking about the implications of winning the division, entering Sunday's game.
"Not at all, not at all," said Wilfork. "We do a real good job about just taking it one game at a time out here. That's how we approach it. Every week we wanna win. I want to be undefeated every year, but it doesn't happen. But we never look at it like that. Take it one game at a time, but hopefully that one game at a time is good enough at the end."
A good 10 lockers down, to Wilfork's right, stood wide receiver Wes Welker. He said he's aware of a potential division title if they defeat the Dolphins, his former team.
"Absolutely," said Welker. "It shows you how big of a game it is. It's still early in the year, but this is a big game for us, and one that we really have to play well in and executing the way we need to, and playing the way we need to."
Meanwhile, all the way down the end of the locker room, to his right, stood linebacker Jerod Mayo. When he was asked about thinking of winning the division on Sunday, Mayo compared it to "any other game."
"We're approaching this game like any other game," said Mayo. "We're trying to win, obviously. And the guys are out there practicing hard, and all of our focus is on the Miami Dolphins.
"To be honest with you, we're just trying to take it one game at a time. Right now, all of our focus is on the Miami Dolphins. And they have a good team. This isn't a 'gimme' win by any means. All of our focus is on the Miami Dolphins."
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