FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Let’s see, the New England Patriots finished with the best record in the NFL (14-2). Their quarterback, Tom Brady, had the league’s best passer rating (111.0, fifth best in league history) and threw for 36 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

The Patriots set an NFL record with seven consecutive games without a turnover and ended the regular season with just 10 turnovers. They led the NFL with a plus-28 turnover ratio and 25 interceptions. They tied an NFL record by scoring at least 30 points in eight consecutive games — all victories — to end the regular season.

They had a 1,000-yard rusher (BenJarvus Green-Ellis) and two players score at least 10 touchdowns (Green-Ellis, 13 rushing) and rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski (10 receiving).

So what’s the focus this playoff bye week as the Patriots wait for their next opponent? What else? How to get better.

“There’s a lot to fix,” Brady said at a press conference Wednesday. “I don’t want to sit here and tell you guys all the things we’re working on but there’s plenty of things that we have to figure out, ways to do things better.”

Bill Belichick, who became the first head coach in NFL history to win 14 games in four regular seasons, wasn’t much more specific, but he also cited the need to get better.

“There’s a long list, a long list,” he said. “We’ll be sure we’ll get them all in.

“You know, some situation things, some execution things, some things that we want to make sure that we’ve seen that we’ve had trouble with, that if they come up again, we’ll handle them better: blitzes, things like that.”

It’s called self scouting and it’s something the Patriots do very well. They’ll spend the week poring over films of all 16 regular-season games, picking out the things that worked and focusing on those that didn’t.

“We’re saying, ‘OK, that was a good way, this was a not-so-good way. Is this the spacing we need? That spacing doesn’t work. This is the timing we need,’” said Brady.

“It’s a constant process; it happens in the meeting, happens in the practice, happens in the games.”

Wide receiver Deion Branch added: “Our biggest thing is to focus on us, going out and executing things we’re working on in practice — I think right now guys got to understand we need everybody at their best, starting in practice.”

Belichick said there are some similarities in the Patriots’ three possible playoff opponents. The New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens all play a 3-4 defense. And that will help when the game planning begins.

But, he added: “It doesn’t matter who we play, we just feel we need to get better.”

WHEN THE Patriots traded Randy Moss on Oct. 6, everyone in the media asked where the offense would come from. Turns out, it came from everyone else.

The team scored 65 touchdowns. Green-Ellis, Branch, Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead, Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez became offensive leaders.

“It was kind of what we were hoping would happen,” said Brady. “Any time you lose a great player, other guys have to fill the void and not necessarily with the same skill set that Randy had, but the skill set of the players that are here.

“We are continuing to try to do that now. We are trying to continue to find ways to be effective. You know, getting the football to the guys that are doing good things with it.

“Whether you lose Kevin (Faulk) over the course of the season or Randy, Laurence Maroney, (Stephen) Neal, guys who are filling in say, ‘OK, what are my strengths? How am I going to play to those strengths? How can we still be effective with the defenses that we’re facing?

“That’s part of the coaching that we’re getting to figure out ways to still be effective.”

WHILE BRADY and Belichick were noncommittal about whether they’d watch the wild-card games this weekend — both said they’d pay attention to the games — Branch said he’d be parked in front of his television.

“This is part of being a professional,” he said. “Somebody would have to be a fool to tell you, ‘I’m not going to watch these games.’ I mean, we’re going to play one of these guys.”

If the Jets beat the Colts Saturday night, the Patriots will know their opponent for their Jan. 16 divisional playoff game and, Branch said, immediately start planning for the Jets. If Indianapolis wins, the Patriots will play the winner of Sunday’s game between Baltimore and Kansas City.

“I think whoever it is, it’s going to be a (very) good team and we are going to have to go out there and play our best game of the year to beat them,” said Brady. “I think that’s really what we’re focused on.”

THE PATRIOTS announced their opponents for 2011, and fans are in for some treats at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots, in addition to playing their AFC East rivals, will play the AFC West and NFC East teams. And as the first-place team in the AFC East, the Patriots will play the first-place teams in the AFC South (Indianapolis) and AFC North (Pittsburgh).

Here are the Patriots’ 2011 home opponents: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, N.Y. Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, N.Y. Giants and Dallas Cowboys.

Their road opponents include Buffalo, Miami, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos.

“Big games,” said Brady. “I like big games.”

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com

 

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