Matt Cassel’s fumble in the third quarter Sunday was one of many miscues leading to the loss that put the Pats on the ropes.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

FOXBORO — For the next four weeks, the New England Patriots can’t take things one game at a time.

They have to take them one win at a time.

With a 7-5 record and on the outside looking in when it comes to the AFC playoffs, the Patriots’ loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday has put them in a position where they essentially have to win all the remaining games on their schedule.

Eleven wins virtually assures a team a postseason berth; 10 puts it in a position where it likely has to count on others to help it get into the tournament.

The last time New England was in a situation like that, it didn’t work out so well. In 2002, the Patriots lost their 14th and 15th games, and had to win their season finale against the Dolphins. The comeback victory was exhilarating, but the Green Bay Packers essentially rolled over for the New York Jets, and the Jets won the final wildcard berth on the second tiebreaker.

As coach Bill Belichick would say, that’s not what the Pats are looking for.

“We’ve put ourselves in this position, where we have to do something about it or end up 8-8,” linebacker Mike Vrabel said yesterday. “We went into this game [against Pittsburgh] wanting to get two wins in a row. Win one, lose one, win one, lose one — that won’t get you anywhere. We have to build with a good performance against Seattle.”

New England fans and observers have become accustomed to the team being able to pull out improbable wins, or close wins, and to overcome all types of adversity. But that hasn’t been the case this year.

The Pats’ losses to Indianapolis and at home to the Jets were very winnable, and it seems they’ve run short of the plugs they normally use to fill holes, though to be fair, Tom Brady, Rodney Harrison and Adalius Thomas are some major holes.

“It’s a different story compared to last year,” understated Logan Mankins, reflecting on last year’s 12-0 record at this point and New England’s current state.

While their chances of heading to the playoffs are not guaranteed, don’t tell the Pats they’re in dire straits.

“A lot of teams in this league would like to be 7-5,” Vrabel said when a reporter mistakenly used the word “unraveling” for New England’s season. “Ask [winless] Detroit, ask RAC [former New England defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who is likely to be fired as Cleveland coach since his team has only four wins]. Until they tell us we don’t, we’ve got a chance.”

In the past, Belichick has counted on his veteran leaders to keep the team focused and not get too far ahead of itself, while also not looking behind. Even though Brady and Harrison are on the shelf and players like Junior Seau and Troy Brown are no longer with the team, Belichick still feels there’s enough players in the locker room to do that now.

“We have had our highs and lows and we bounce back from those. We try to work hard and continue to work hard and get better every week whether we have won or lost, played well or haven’t played well, practice well or haven’t practiced well,” Belichick said. “There has been a good effort and good attentiveness to try to correct things, improve and get them right. I don’t see any reason why that would change.”

To that end, there is one thing on the minds of all Patriots players and coaches this week: the Seahawks.

“The best thing we can do is go out there and win,” Belichick said. “Right now, that is what we are working on for Seattle. We are not worried about anybody else but Seattle. I know there are other games on our schedule but there is nothing we can do about any of those games. We are not going to concern ourselves with them just like we normally wouldn’t. We will focus on this game, one game at a time, and get ready for Seattle.”

smanza@projo.com