Local New England Patriots fans who will see the action live Saturday night in Foxboro, Mass., are prepping to tackle an arctic blast.

While frigid temperatures are predicted to grip Gillette Stadium, the Patriots take on the Baltimore Ravens in a divisional playoff game. The projected chill likely won’t set any records at the stadium, but it will be dangerously cold.

The National Weather Service is predicting a high of 26 degrees Saturday in Foxboro, with temperatures plummeting to around 13 that night. Kickoff is set for 4:35 p.m.

The cold won’t deter Westbrook businessman Bill Foye, a season ticket holder for 25 years, from being on hand in the stadium. He doesn’t believe the cold would make a difference for the Patriots on the field.

“I’m predicting a win,” Foye, owner of Carpet Specialist in Westbrook, said on Monday.

Fans and players alike will gear up to block the cold.

Foye said he’ll “dress appropriately.” He’s planning to wear thermals, a turtleneck and a jacket. Foye said his seat is located in the stadium’s middle tier.

“The wind is usually at my back,” he said.

Gabe Polchies and his wife, Jodi, will be sitting 16 rows up in the end zone on Saturday. Polchies, offensive coordinator for the Gorham High School football team, has long been a faithful Patriots fan.

“I go to them all,” said Polchies, president of Maine Document Solutions in Westbrook.

Gabe and Jodi will be bundled up for this game. “I wear 10 sweatshirts,” he joked, admitting some exaggeration.

Speaking from experience, Polchies said he would have three or four sweatshirts, a turtleneck and boots. He’ll be grilling before the game and said the key to staying warm during the game is avoiding chill while tailgating.

Retired Gorham High School football coach Dave Kilborn, who said he doesn’t have “the honor” of attending Saturday’s game, said he heard that quarterback Tom Brady “wears a scuba suit under his jersey on the cold weather days.”

With an eye on the weather, one Patriots season ticket holder from Buxton has handed off his playoff tickets.

“Age is a factor on this one,” Ron Usher, 75, laughed on Monday.

In the stadium, Patriots fans clad in a variety of parkas, pullovers and insulated drawers will cheer despite the cold. Some will peer from under blankets.

“Blankets are always welcome at Gillette Stadium,” Stacey James, vice president of media relations for the Patriots, wrote in an email to the American Journal. “Fans should have the blanket draped over their arm at security screening to make it easy for the blankets to be checked before entry.”

Foye recalls a game colder than the expected temperature for Saturday’s. He cited a Patriots playoff game with the Tennesee Titans 11 years ago.

“It was 4 degrees at kickoff,” Foye said.

James said that was the coldest game in Patriots history.

“The Patriots won, 17-14 on Jan. 10, 2004,” James said.

Those going to Gillette with Usher’s tickets should be snug.

“They’ll be wearing snowmobile suits,” Usher said.

Steve Madore of Buxton, who doesn’t have tickets this week, and his son Hunter Madore, 17, a senior at Massabesic High School, had seats high in Gillette Stadium Dec. 28 when the Patriots played Buffalo.

“We were up there,” he said.

Madore recommends thick sweatshirts, snow pants, insulated boots, hats and gloves.

“When the wind comes through, there’s nothing blocking it,” Madore said.

Kilborn believes that many National Football League players stay warm on the sidelines is with helmet heaters and heated benches.

“I would have loved to have had that opportunity when I was coaching,” Kilborn said.

Cold aside, a trip to watch the Patriots becomes a memorable social event.

“It was definitely an experience to have with my son,” Madore said.

The weather won’t put a damper on some pre-game tailgating outside the stadium. Foye, who will arrive about noon, will join four out-of-state college pals for some hot food. Foye will be the chef, grilling up steak tips and chili.

A Patriots win in Saturday’s divisional showdown earns them a conference title game at Gillette, with that winner going to the Super Bowl.

Dan McCarthy, owner of Tickets Unlimited in Westbrook, said Tuesday he had Patriots tickets available for Saturday in a price range that started at $200.

Bundled up on Dec. 28, when the Patriots played Buffalo, are Gabe Polchies of Gorham with his daughter Megan, 14, a Gorham High School student, and his son, Josh, 8, a Narragansett School student. Courtesy photo