After back-to-back losses, the New England Patriots finally added to the win column again on Sunday. Their 24-12 victory against the visiting Buffalo Bills was not the only reason for celebration, however: beating Buffalo also secured the Patriots the AFC East title for a tenth straight season. Naturally, the mood in the locker room after the game was a jubilant one as the team’s behind-the-scenes clip shows:
How do we feel about being AFC East Champions?
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 25, 2018
Awww yeah. pic.twitter.com/w5IiP7LAIK
The clip starts with the players flowing into the locker room, immediately demanding their AFC East championship gear. “Give me my t-shirt,” wide receiver Chris Hogan barked as he entered the room. “Put a hat and t-shirt on, buddy,” linebacker Dont’a Hightower told team owner Robert Kraft as the two exchanged a few quick words. “Where my damn hat and t-shirt at?” asked Jason McCourty, who won a division title only one year after going 0-16 with the Cleveland Browns.
After the usual rounds of high-fives and hugs, Bill Belichick started to address the team. “That’s the way to show up and be physical and outrush them by a couple hundred yards, almost 300,” the Patriots’ head coach told his team. “That’s the way to run the ball. Good job of stopping the run. [We] played pretty good team football here today. AFC East champs, congratulations.”
Belichick went on to tell his team to come in on Wednesday to start preparations for the upcoming game against the New York Jets. He ended his address with a “Merry Christmas” before giving the floor to special teams captain Matthew Slater. “How do we feel about being AFC East champions?” Awww yeah.