"This is one of the reasons that I signed here, because a team like this expects to be playing in January and expects to be in the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl," said Washington, who has emerged as a key special teams performer. "So, this is a great atmosphere to be in and to feed off the energy from the guys in practice and the preparation for playoff games."
Welker and Washington, imported as part of the Patriots' offseason overhaul at wide receiver, are among 11 players on the active roster who could make their playoff debuts Saturday (45 players are active on game day). However, all the others are first- and second-year players, except sixth-year safety Mel Mitchell, who like Washington is primarily a special teams player.
Welker, who set a Patriots record and tied for the NFL lead with 112 receptions this season, has played in 63 regular-season games, including this season, without a taste of the playoffs. He began his career with the San Diego Chargers in 2004 and played in one game for them before being released and picked up by the Miami Dolphins, who haven't made the playoffs since 2001.
Washington played the previous four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and has played in 58 regular-season games, including this season. He was a member of the 2005 Bengals squad that earned a playoff berth, but was inactive when Cincinnati lost, 31-17, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round.
Both players said they haven't really sought advice from their playoff-tested teammates, but Washington said the change in the locker room has been palpable.
"We're staying in meetings a little bit longer and just our focus and concentration is more, just because of the seriousness of the game," he said. "We know if we lose, we go home, so everybody is really keyed in."
