Patriots preparing for an emotional environment Sunday in Buffalo –

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Preparing for an emotional environment: Patriots captain Deatrich Wise Jr. summed up the unique situation the team finds itself in Sunday on the road against the Buffalo Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

Everyone in the NFL community has been pulling for the Bills and injured safety Damar Hamlin — the Patriots included — and now New England faces Buffalo as an opponent in a game with postseason implications, as a win secures a spot in the playoffs for the Patriots.

“We know it’s going to be a very emotional game. We know going into this environment what’s going to come. We have a heart towards what they experienced,” Wise said.

“It’s a balance between being empathetic and also playing football. I believe with our leaders on our team, they’re keeping that balance right where it needs to be to go out there with full hearts and clear eyes and play the game.”

Wise and fellow captains made it clear all week that their primary thoughts have been that Hamlin makes a full recovery.

“It kind of shook our team watching the game,” he said, acknowledging the difference between seeing it on TV and Bills players experiencing it in person.

Players have envisioned how they might react to the pregame scene at New Era Field, which will include a “moment of support and love” for Hamlin. Bills players will have Hamlin’s No. 3 as a patch on their jerseys, and all players across the league have the option to wear black T-shirts that say “Love for Damar 3” on them.

There is an element of unknown for many in terms of how they’ll respond to what veteran safety Adrian Phillips expects to be a “super emotional environment.”

“I wish I had an answer,” Phillips said. “You just try to go through it the best you can, talk to the players on the…