The New England Patriots haven’t had any issues handling hostile environments this season.
New England enters a Week 14 bye as the only team with an undefeated road record. The Patriots are 6-0 away from Gillette Stadium, including statement wins over the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kay Adams asked Marcus Jones on Thursday’s “Up & Adams” if he feels the Patriots play better on the road. The cornerback and special teams ace acknowledged that an away game can create some extra pressure, but he downplayed any significant change in approach based on the venue.
“Whenever we’re at home and whenever we’re away, we’re literally trying to win the game,” Jones said. “That’s 24/7. We don’t really care what atmosphere it’s at, what stadium and everything.”
The Patriots have hardly struggled at home, going 5-2 with four double-digit victories. Jones said the team feeds off the Gillette Stadium crowd, which they miss on the road.
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“Of course, whenever we’re playing at home, we got the fans on the defensive side making it harder for the opposing team,” Jones said. “And the momentum goes from there, but we have to bring our own energy whenever we’re playing away. We’ve been doing a good job of doing that and making plays.”
Jones has fueled New England’s road dominance by tallying all three of his interceptions — including a Week 12 pick-six — and a fumble recovery away from Foxborough. But the All-Pro gave Pats fans a reason to cheer when returning a punt for a touchdown in Monday night’s 33-15 win over the New York Giants.
The Patriots have two more road games against the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets. A strong finish can ensure they stay at home throughout the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
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