FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Preparing for the playoffs might be old hat for most New England Patriots veterans, but left tackle Trent Brown and cornerback Jason McCourty are two notable exceptions.

This year's playoffs will offer their first taste of the postseason.

“I haven’t been to the playoffs, in anything, since high school. This is a dream come true,” said Brown, the fourth-year veteran who has started all 16 games as quarterback Tom Brady’s blindside protector. New England acquired Brown from San Francisco in a trade during the 2018 NFL draft.

“Everything about this move has been so surreal," Brown said. "I’ve gathered a whole lot of invaluable information along the way and I’m just truly blessed to be here with this team, with these coaches, this organization, in this town. I’m truly excited for this opportunity.”

So, too, is McCourty.

“I’m just looking forward to Wednesday. Typically, I’d be going out to dinner with all the DBs, just congratulating each and every guy on a completed season and cleaning out lockers,” said the 10-year NFL veteran. “So for me, Wednesday is fun. I get to come in to work and get to focus on what lies ahead of us. So I’m not even thinking big picture or what comes along, but just that I get to come in to work Wednesday and try to get better as a player and as a team.”

In past years, this was the time of year in which McCourty would turn into a Patriots fan. His Tennessee Titans (2009-2016) and Cleveland Browns (2017) teams were finished playing, so he’d cheer for his twin brother, Devin.

“I was just always watching these guys, being able to watch my brother. I think I went to his playoff game his rookie year [in 2010], but it was way too cold, so I never went to another one after that,” he cracked. “But I would come up here and be at his house and be around his family. For me, that was my playoff, being able to kind of live vicariously through him and be able to go on a run with him. It will be a lot different feel this year.”

Fourth-year defensive tackle Danny Shelton and second-year safety Obi Melifonwu are two other Patriots veterans making their first playoff appearances.

The chance to play in the postseason was one of the things that appealed to Brown when he was acquired by the Patriots.

“A part of you is like, ‘Man, I wish that was us,’” Brown said of watching the playoffs in his first three NFL seasons. “I know Super Bowls is not what they talk about around here, but I couldn’t help but think about the success, just year after year, going deep into postseason play. I was excited about it and I knew coming here I would have to be on my A-game and they wouldn’t accept anything less.”

For McCourty, who didn’t win a game with the Browns last season, the experience in New England has been fulfilling.

“I think you just learn not to take it for granted," he said. "My experiences, just being in this locker room around some of the guys that have gone every year, hearing my stories, I think it helps us all not take it for granted and realize how special it is.

“It’s not just the playoffs, but to go on a journey with whatever guys are in this locker room. No matter what success you have, the one thing that’s consistent in this league is change. So this locker room won’t be exactly the same next year, so being able to enjoy and savor every moment regardless of the success or failure is important.”