FOXBOROUGH – On Jan. 13, the Patriots will kick off the postseason against a yet-to-be determined opponent. That they aren’t aware of their competition is not diminishing their anticipation.

“It’s a playoff game. That’s what we’re here for. You play the whole regular season to get into the playoffs,” Bill Belichick said Wednesday at Gillette Stadium. “I would hope we’re excited and more amped up to play. It’s a higher level of competition. Not that the regular season isn’t. But the playoffs are the highest. There’s no question about that.”