SACO — Brian Binette doesn’t have superstitions when it comes to watching the New England Patriots, save one. When he’s in his favorite recliner watching the Pats, Binette wears his lucky Patriots shirt. Throughout the game, he’ll rub the team logo on his chest. Touching it, feeling it, makes him feel closer to the game.

The way Binette, 52, sees it, there are two reasons why the Patriots are playing in the AFC championship game Sunday afternoon in Denver, looking for a spot in the Super Bowl for the first time since defeating the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII seven years ago.

“Drake and Vrabel,” he said.

Binette has cerebral palsy. He speaks using a computer screen mounted to his wheelchair. His eyes lock onto the letter he needs to spell the words he wants to say.

Drake, of course, is Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who in his second pro season put himself into the Most Valuable Player discussion and led the NFL in passer rating (113.5) and completion percentage (72.0). Vrabel is Mike Vrabel, the former standout linebacker who in his first season as Patriots head coach reversed the fortunes of the team. A year ago, New England won just four games for the second season in a row. After a 14-3 regular season, the Pats are now one win from the Super Bowl.

Sitting in the dining room of his family’s home, alongside his father, Bernie, Binette grinned just thinking about it. Nothing about this successful season was expected. Prodded by his father, Binette shared his preseason prediction for how New England’s season would go. Optimistic fans thought nine or 10 wins was possible, giving the Pats a shot at the playoffs.

Binette was not an optimistic fan. He saw the team going 3-14. He’s never been happy to be so abjectly wrong. It was around Thanksgiving, when the Patriots were beating the Cincinnati Bengals to improve to 10-2, that Binette finally believed this team wasn’t a mirage.

When he’s not watching the games, Binette is watching all things Patriots and NFL adjacent. Vrabel’s press conferences. Simulcasts of Boston sports talk radio shows. Pregame shows on the NFL Network, ESPN and CBS. NBC Sports Boston’s postgame show, the one with Tom Curran, Michael Holley, and that former player, what’s his name, the linebacker with the neck like an oak tree …

“Johnson,” Binette said. Yes, Ted Johnson.

“He remembers names a lot better than I do,” said Bernie, who retired from a career in education, including years as Biddeford High principal, in 2009.

Binette absorbs it all. On the wall next to his bed is a panoramic shot of Gillette Stadium. Below the television in his room is a sign. “Welcome Pats fans. All others use back door,” it reads.

“If there’s a game on, I’ll watch,” he said.

One of his prize pieces of memorabilia is a Patriots championship baseball cap signed by numerous players and coaches. Rob Gronkowski’s signature is on that cap, along with Wes Welker, Nate Ebner and Christian McCaffrey, who signed when he played for the Carolina Panthers and they joined the Pats for preseason practices when Binette and his father attended training camp.

Bill Belichick signed the hat, too, noting to Binette that seeing it brought back good memories of past title-winning teams.

Cerebral palsy slowed Binette’s body. It hasn’t slowed his mind. He earned his associate’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Southern Maine in 1999. In 2007, he was honored by the Boston Celtics as one of the team’s Heroes Among Us for his work mentoring and math tutoring special needs children. He was introduced on the court during a Celtics game. The TD Garden crowd gave him a standing ovation. He met Larry Bird, Robert Parrish and Danny Ainge.

“They were rough and needed love,” Binette said of the students with whom he worked.

Sunday afternoon, Bernie will help Brian into the recliner next to his own, and they’ll turn on the pregame shows. Brian will rub the front of his shirt, sending whatever luck he can muster for the Pats across the Great Plains to Denver.

Those preseason doubts about this team are gone. Binette’s prediction for the game is a solid New England win, 27-14. Another trip to the Super Bowl. Can you believe it?

Binette can, and his smile widens again.