FOXBORO -- The Patriots aren't used to this.
Three weeks into the regular season, New England enters Buffalo with a 1-2 record. And as everyone knows, this divisional game is never a walk in the park. Following that game, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos come to Gillette Stadium.
It was speculated before the season that the Patriots would have a favorable schedule. All of a sudden, it doesn't look so easy.
Still, the Pats aren't too concerned.
"We're pretty calm, we're calm," said Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch before Wednesday's practice. "I think the thing is, for us not to panic right now. I think that's the last thing that we want to do. Just practice a little bit more on our details and everything that we've been messing up on, get those things corrected, improve the things that we're doing pretty good, and I think we'll be ok.
"We're not panicking, but at the same time, we're not being relaxed, either, as if we've got everything under control. We've still got to go out and play ball."
That said, Sunday's game against the Bills is crucial for the Patriots to turn things around. And one would think that makes the role of New England's veterans that much more important in the weekly preparations leading up to the game.
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But Branch said that's not necessarily the case. At least, vocally.
"I don't think we're doing a lot of talking," said Branch. "I think it's, more so now, the veteran guys showing by example. Just going out in the meeting rooms and on the practice field. There's not too much talking going on around here. It's all about just going out and handling our business."