In a monthlong stretch that begins today against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots can pretty much ensure that they will not again feel the sting of a sterling regular season rendered moot. They will play four conference opponents - three within the AFC East - in five games, a stretch that could catapult them to the top of the AFC or potentially force them into cheering against certain competitors in the season’s final weeks.

Last year, the Patriots missed out on the postseason because the Dolphins, with the same overall record, won the division via the conference-record tiebreaker. The Ravens, who also went 11-5, won the second wild-card spot over New England by virtue of a better conference record.

The disappointing finish to an 11-win season reinforced the importance of games against division and conference opponents to the Patriots.

“There’s no question about it,’’ Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. “I remember when I came into the league, nine games was kind of the measuring stick. You rarely saw a team [win] nine games, 10 games that didn’t make the playoffs. Now you’ve got a team that wins 11 games that doesn’t make the playoffs.

“I think there’s no question, it all starts within your division. The division games are as critical as you get in this thing. To leave it up to kind of fate or the luck of the draw or any of those things, it’s probably not the best thing to do. You need to take care of your division first.’’

Despite their overall records - the Dolphins are 3-4, the Patriots 5-2 - the Dolphins already hold a potentially crucial advantage; they are 3-0 against AFC East foes, while the Patriots are 1-1. Meanwhile, the Patriots, at 3-2, are tied for the sixth-best conference record in the AFC with the Dolphins and Bengals.

The Patriots understand this game’s importance, “especially right now with them having three division wins,’’ defensive lineman Mike Wright said. “This is the biggest game of the year at this point.’’

Many observers have pointed to this five-game stretch as the defining section of the Patriots schedule. A victory in Week 12 over the currently undefeated Saints would make for impressive window dressing - but it still would be only window dressing. The Patriots more likely will shape their season against the Dolphins, Colts, Jets, and, after they face New Orleans, the Dolphins again.

Coach Bill Belichick said he and his staff often talk to players about the need to win division games.

“The way it ended last season, you’ve got to focus on not just every division game, but on every conference game you play,’’ running back Kevin Faulk said. “That’s one thing you have to do. You have to take special emphasis on it.’’

It is difficult and dangerous to distill any season into one result. But it’s a fact: Had the Patriots beaten the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium last season, they would have made the playoffs. Instead, the Dolphins swamped them, 38-13, and eventually usurped the Patriots as division champs.

“The game we lost here,’’ wide receiver Wes Welker said, “was the reason why we didn’t go to the playoffs.’’

The divisional and conference games likely will carry even more significance this season. With wretched teams pockmarking the NFL landscape, an abundance of teams could pile up gaudy win totals.

“It’s a little more added motivation,’’ Patriots guard Steven Neal said. “You’ve got to win the games against the AFC opponents. That’s the difference from last year.’’

The Dolphins have proven adept at winning inside the division. Under Sparano, now in his second year, the Dolphins are 7-2 against the AFC East. Since 2001, Belichick is 40-12 against the AFC East - but just 10-6 against the Dolphins.

“It’s an emphasis, and it has been since I walked in here, that we try to do well in our division,’’ Sparano said. “Our division games are our most important.’’

Today, the Patriots can begin to position themselves to win their tiebreakers and not let another postseason spot slip away. Until then, they will have to confront the final outcome of last season.

“They’re the champs,’’ Neal said. “Until someone does something about it, they’re the champs.’’

Adam Kilgore can be reached at akilgore@globe.com.