Pats Pulpit
Following two straight home games, the Patriots will be back on the road in Week 16 as travel to Baltimore to take on a Ravens team fighting for their playoff spot.
Throughout the year, Mike Vrabel’s squad is a perfect 6-0 on the road as they’ve adapted a road warriors mindset. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs believes that success has stemmed from the team’s mindset.
“When you go into those hostile environments, we’re all we got. For real, for real,” Diggs said Wednesday. “Whether it’s the coaches, whether it’s the players, it’s hyper-sensitive. It’s a lot of energy out there. It’s real intense. So I think we go in with that mindset of: We match that. We’ve gotta match that energy and we’ve gotta make plays at a high level. The only way to keep them quiet is you’ve gotta make plays — and if you don’t, you’ll hear a lot from them.”
The crowd at M&T Stadium should be ever livelier than usual with the game being flexed out of the afternoon slate and to a national stage on Sunday Night Football.
Two of Diggs’ best games this season have come in primetime, which included a 10 catch, 146-yard performance in his return to Buffalo on Sunday Night Football in Week 5 and a nine catch, 105-yard stat line previously against the Jets on a Thursday night stage.
“I go on whether it’s a big game or, I don’t know what a small game would be because every game counts the same,” Diggs said. “I think more parameters like a prime-time game and stuff like that. If you can’t get up for prime time, then it’s not the sport for you. But our approach is all the same, going in with the mindset of I’m trying to dominate. I’m trying to win. We’ve been playing some good teams, so it’s always going to be a good challenge and a good test.”
Sunday night won’t technically be a true road game for Diggs, however, as the receiver was born in Maryland and attended the University of Maryland from 2012-14. The 32-year old is ready to return to play in his home state for just the second time in his career.
“It’s exciting for me. It’s a home game for me, back where I’m from,” Diggs said. “I’ve been in the league a long time and I enjoy playing in those hostile environments when it’s loud. It’s a lot of fun.”
