After a bye in Week 10, the Patriots are at Buffalo to face a Bills team that has shown character in hard-luck losses to Denver and Dallas and progress in beating Baltimore on Sunday. If New England comes into this game at less than full preparation and takes the Bills’ defense lightly, a tough game could be in order.

But not likely an upset. That could occur in Week 13 when they travel to Baltimore. The Ravens have never had the kind of complete team head coach Brian Billick has wanted, but the defense is still capable of dominating and Steve McNair is capable of making big plays in the 4^th quarter of a close game.

Should the Patriots survive that game, they will likely be in the final stages of playing for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs because the Colts should still be on their trail. That would make the Week 14 and 15 games against the Steelers and Jets equally important. With both of those games at home, New England is not about to let up.

But what about the final two games of the season? The Dolphins visit Foxboro in Week 16 and Belichick is likely to rest his regulars once the Pats have command of this one. Based on what happened in Sunday’s game, that should be no later than the middle of the second quarter. Then, in the final regular-season game, the Pats travel to the Meadowlands to take on the Giants. New York has been surging after an awful start and the game could mean the division or at least a playoff spot for Tom Coughlin's team. Will the Patriots let up in that game with the postseason just around the corner?

Not if they are playing for an undefeated season and history. This is a team that knows it has a place with the great teams of the last 40 years but that status is not enough. Brady, Belichick and Tedy Bruschi want to be at the head of that list. They won’t speak of it publicly, but to get those records and to finish undefeated is more important than relaxing in the final two weeks.

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The Patriot players also want a little retribution for their coach, who was dogged by the Spygate controversy that came into focus after Jets coach Eric Mangini blew the whistle on his former boss following New England's Week 1 38-14 victory. Belichick was vilified as a cheater following that controversy and his players clearly resent the implication that their three previous Super Bowls were at least partially tainted.

That nasty slap in the face may just turn out to be the extra fuel needed to keep the Patriots' raging inferno burning all year.