With a win Saturday against the Bills, the Patriots would clinch their 11th straight AFC East title.
While some may take it for granted, Tom Brady certainly isn't one of them.
On The Greg Hill Show Monday, the Patriots quarterback gave good perspective on how tough it is to be able to win the division year-after-year.
"Heck no," he said emphatically when asked if he ever takes it for granted. "Man, this is so hard to do and I know, I think if anything it is you appreciate it more because it's so hard. This is level playing field. It's not like we ever get top-five picks, we play the easiest schedules. The whole league is meant to bring everyone back to 8-8 on the year. The fact we've qualified for the playoffs 11 straight years, these things are hard to do.
"We put the work in every day and we don't take our foot off the gas pedal and it's a grind. It's a great challenge. I think when you accomplish something as a team, it's a great feeling. No one can ever take those things away from you. This year has had its challenges, adversities like every other year and if we win, that is a great accomplishment and it's going to be an incredibly tough game."
Even if the Patriots lose, they still would just have to beat Miami to win the division in Week 17, but it still is a huge game nonetheless.
Buffalo clinched a spot in the playoffs with its win over the Steelers Sunday night and is playing its best football of the season. In Week 4, the Bills held Brady and the Patriots offense to just 224 yards of total offense, its fewest of the season.
"This is one of best teams in the NFL," Brady said. "They went into Pittsburgh (and won), they were right there to beat Baltimore. This team is an incredibly difficult team. They have great players on the defensive line, at linebacker, in the secondary, they intercept the ball, they can run the ball, they make big plays, they are good in the kicking game, have one of the best returners, they are a team that knows us well.
"Our toughest games are ahead of us and we have to go out and perform that way."
Two wins to close out the year would also clinch the No. 2 seed and give the Patriots a first-round bye.
