Several Patriots in playoffs for 1st time

FOXBOROUGH, MASS. >> Being a member of the New England Patriots during the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era has generally meant a guaranteed place in the playoffs.

Still, for 20 players on the Patriots’ active roster Saturday will mark the first taste of the postseason of their NFL careers.

That group includes a pair of starters who have filled significant roles for New England this season in defensive end Chris Long and receiver Chris Hogan.

Long hadn’t won more than seven games in any of his eight years with the Rams from 2008 to 2015 prior to signing with New

England this offseason.

Hogan, in his fourth season, spent the previous three seasons playing for AFC East rival Buffalo. The closest he came to the playoffs with the Bills was a 9-7 finish in 2014.

“I’ve never experienced it before so this is all new to me,” Hogan said. “Just talking to some of the guys, the playoffs, you talk about preseason going into the regular season, the speed kind of picks up, and I’ve heard that from a number of guys that the playoff speed picks up a little bit more.”

Long’s playoff drought is the longest of any of the Patriots.

“I think everything happens for a reason. Sometimes you might not like it, but listen, it is what it is,” he said.

“I’ve been very lucky throughout my career in a lot of ways, so whatever brought me to this point... I’m just going to be excited to be in the moment. Everybody earns it.”

Hogan has fit right into the Patriots receiving group, making 14 starts. He’s fourth on the team with 38 catches for 680 yards and four touchdowns.