Watch CBS News

Brady: How Patriots Play In 2 Weeks 'All That Really Matters'

BOSTON (CBS) -- Closing the season with a 20-10 loss in Miami, their fourth loss in their last six games, wasn't how the Patriots envisioned the 2015 regular season coming to an end.

Are they concerned? Maybe just a little bit. But they're a determined to right the ship before the postseason arrives in Foxboro in two weeks.

"I don't know if I would describe it as concern," special teams captain Matthew Slater said after Sunday's loss. "But I definitely think we need to start playing a lot better than we have the last few weeks."

After starting the campaign 10-0 and looking like a surefire Super Bowl contender, the Patriots have limped to a 12-4 finish. Their loss on Sunday could cost them the top seed in the AFC, but the silver lining is they wrapped up a first-round bye weeks ago.

That week off couldn't come at a better time for the Patriots, who have some serious self-evaluating to do over the next seven days.

"We just have to get better," quarterback Tom Brady said after taking a beating by the Dolphins on Sunday. "[The bye week] will give us a chance to evaluate where we're at and see the things we need to do better as a team so we can try to win these games. It's a tough sport. You see where you're at after 16 games and just keep fighting on."

"Every year you have to hit the reset button once the postseason starts. Right now, we definitely need to hit the reset button and get ready to go," said safety Devin McCourty. "There is no more tomorrow or next game, so we have to amp it up and be ready to go."

Getting some reinforcements back for the playoffs is part of that reset, as receiver Julian Edelman and left tackle Sebastian Vollmer are both expected to return when the Patriots host their divisional round game on January 16 or 17. Both players returning to action should help cure some of the woes the New England offense has been suffering the last six weeks, but the Patriots won't point to their rash of injuries as the reason for their poor play as of late.

The Patriots pride themselves as a team that plays their best football after Thanksgiving and leading up to the playoffs, which has not been the case this time around. So while they wait to learn their first postseason opponent, everything will be focused on making the Patriots a better football team.

"We just have to play well two weeks from now. That's all that really matters," said Brady. "It's going to be one game, you have to play well, and that's what our whole season is going to come down to. Nothing over the last six weeks is going to matter. Nothing over the last 16 weeks is going to matter. What's going to matter is how well we play in two weeks."

"Confident or not, we have a week to go out and work hard," said McCourty. "I never question this team's fight and ability to go out and put in the work. We just have to see where it takes us."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.