January football in New England over the years has often provided the Patriots with some type of advantage over their opponents in the playoffs.

That won’t be the case Sunday.

The unusually mild winter is expected to bring unusually warm temperatures to Foxborough Sunday in what meteorologists are calling an early arrival to the “January thaw.”

According to AccuWeather Forecast, temperatures in Foxborough are expected to peak at 55 degrees an hour before kick-off Sunday and remain in the 50s until after the game Sunday night.

For tailgaters it will feel like a game in early October rather than mid-January. Temperatures from noon to 4 p.m. are expected to be as follows, according to AccuWeather:

• 12 p.m. – 53 degrees (Cloudy)
• 1 p.m. – 54 degrees (Cloudy)
• 2 p.m. – 55 degrees (Mostly cloudy)
• 3 p.m. – 55 degrees (Partly cloudy)
• 4 p.m. – 53 degrees (Partly cloudy)

Temperatures will remain mild from kick-off throughout the game, according to AccuWeather:

• 5 p.m. – 52 degrees (Cloudy)
• 6 p.m. – 51 degrees (Mostly cloudy)
• 7 p.m. – 50 degrees (Cloudy)

If the game goes into overtime then showers could arrive in the 8 p.m. hour, according to AccuWeather.

The Patriots played the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium in mild conditions on Dec. 10, 2012 and rolled to a 42-14 victory.

The Patriots will host a playoff game in Foxborough for the 17^th time in franchise history Sunday when they take on the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round with the winner advancing to next Sunday’s AFC Championship game. Kick-off is 4:30 p.m.

For a complete schedule of this weekend’s divisional round games, click here.

For a more complete look at Sunday’s forecast, click here.