The Patriots enjoyed the fact that they’re a playoff team for the first time in four years for however long the flight home from Baltimore was.

Even postgame, the conversation was already about the AFC East championship.

A division championship and home playoff games is something Mike Vrabel enjoyed quite a few times while he was a member of the team. It’s also the main goal he’s talked about since his introductory press conference nearly a year ago.

New England will play old friend New York at 1:00 p.m. down in New Jersey on Sunday. Assuming they handle the hapless Jets, while the Pats are in the air on their way home, Buffalo will be at home against Philadelphia for a 4:25 game. If the defending champs can knock off the Bills on the road, the Pats will be AFC East champs. If Buffalo wins, New England will just need to beat Miami at home next weekend to lock up the title. Depending on what Denver does the next two weeks, it could also be for the No. 1 seed.

But, the Pats aren’t worried about everything else around them.

They’re worried about the Jets.

“I would say somewhat, slightly disinterested,” Vrabel said Tuesday morning when asked specifically if his interest level was high or low when it comes to following other results around the league with seeding on the line.

“Just unfinished business. I can’t focus on the next two weeks,” he added when talking about his message to the team this week. “We’ve got to focus on this week and going on the road to a great environment, going to New York City, play the Jets and unfinished business. We want to be undefeated on the road. I think that that’s something that’s unique. I’m sure you guys will tell me how many times it’s happened before, but there you go. So, that’s something that I think is special. Still want to play for the division.

“We want to win the division. Haven’t done it in a long time, and whoever we put out there and whoever we play with is going to have to have that in mind and be prepared to do that against a team that’s playing some young guys. They’ve got some good veterans. They’re playing well on third down defensively. I think they have a really, really good offensive line. I think they move people. I like the way they play. I like their play demeanor. They’ve got two really good, young, talented tackles. Guards try to finish you. So again, they’ve got speed, Breece Hall can make you miss. [Adonai] Mitchell’s getting more comfortable in the offense and all that.

“So, there’s some unfinished business. The season isn’t over. This wasn’t our goal and I’m excited that we won, but we’ve moved on.”

Drake Maye has often taken on the same approach as his head coach most weeks and he did again on Tuesday.

“Yeah, I think it’s really important,” Maye said when discussing finishing the season with some momentum heading into the playoffs. “Coach McDaniels has talked to me about improving and getting better in practice as you reach the end of the season and reach the playoff time. You want to feel like you’re improving in practice and guys are practicing hard. That translates to the game. You want to practice well during the week, and you always feel like you play the best when you have a good week of practice.

“So, it’s really big on continuing a little winning streak these last couple games, heading into the playoffs feeling good about ourselves and feeling like we’ve still got some work to do.”

Maye was also named a Pro Bowler on Tuesday, the first time he’s actually earned it, despite being named to the roster late last season.

Maye did an excellent job of saying he’s got more important things to worry about without technically saying it.

“Yeah, obviously, you want to play this game at a high level, and you want to earn the respect of your peers, your organization and around the league. It’s a great honor, but like I said, like I keep saying, I care about winning,” he added.

“I realize what the Pro Bowl’s about, and it’s obviously a great honor. I don’t want to kind of put that to bed like it’s not a cool deal. It really is, but like I said, we’ve got some more important games ahead, and I’m looking forward to that.”

For a young team – with a fantastic core of veterans – it’s like they’ve been in this spot for the last decade. All eyes are locked in on playing much more meaningful football in the days and weeks ahead.