Uproarious Super Bowl send-off for Patriots at Gillette Stadium

FOXBORO – Cheers of "Go Pats!" "Beat L.A.!" and "We’re still here!" echoed on Sunday through Gillette Stadium, where excited New England Patriots fans gathered to send their team off to its 11th Super Bowl.

Pumping their fists in the air, jumping up and down and screaming with the excitement, the energy of the nearly 35,000 fans in the stadium was contagious.

"They’re the best team out there," said Brittany Bouchie, 23, of Pawtucket, who was at the rally with her boyfriend, Demetrius Fay, 26, also of Pawtucket.

Fay said he loves football in part because he used to play on the defensive line at Lincoln High School. He said he was feeling positive about the team’s chances against the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta next Sunday.

"They’ve had a dynasty for all these years," he said of the Patriots, who are five-time Super Bowl champions.

"We want six! We want six!" shouted exuberant fans, who hoped their team would take home a sixth Super Bowl ring this year.

But the crowd went especially wild when quarterback Tom Brady took the stage.

"We’ve got to take this right here and bring this to Atlanta with us," he said, as fans screamed and hoisted signs into the air.

Brady, who has won more Super Bowls with his team than any player in National Football League history, told the crowd it would be a tough game against the Rams. Last year, the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles.

"It’s got to be the best game of the year," he said. "We’ve got to bring it. You guys got to bring it, and hopefully we can bring a trophy back home."

"We’re excited. I hope you guys are excited. Let’s let them hear it all the way down in Atlanta," he said before leading a chant of, "We’re still here!" and tossing his microphone across the stage.

Tammy Martone, of Smithfield, said she woke up at 5:30 a.m. to get to the stadium with her friends and secure a spot on the field closest to the stage.

"So worth it," said her friend, Nicole Morin, 32, of Burrillville. Morin was also there with her boyfriend, Jonathan Forcier, of North Smithfield, who was sporting a hair tattoo of the Patriots logo on the back of his head.

Morin said she’s a Patriots fan, "Because their love is unconditional."

"Win or lose, they always come back and fight," she said.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the crowd from the stage that Patriots fans are the most loyal in the NFL.

"We owe thanks to the many players and coaches who really are the GOATs," he said, using an acronym for "greatest of all time." "They’ve made things happen, but you, the fans, are the true GOATs of all fans in the NFL."

After the team executives and captains left the stage, fireworks shot into the air and red, white and blue confetti rained down over the crowd.

Outside the stadium, fans lined the road and cheered uproariously as buses carrying the players passed by.

When asked if she thought the Patriots would win next Sunday, Bouchie replied enthusiastically:

"Absolutely."