FOXBOROUGH — You’ve probably heard it. You know, Rob Gronkowski’s joke about his next touchdown.

Gronkowski scored his 68th career touchdown last Sunday. He needs one more to surpass Stanley Morgan and set a Patriots record. But that’s not what his joke, the one we can’t quite print in the newspaper, was about.

Gronk put it best postgame in Pittsburgh: “You know what I mean, baby.’’

By Thursday morning, however, Gronkowski was all business.

“That’s the last thing I’m thinking about right now,’’ Gronkowski said. “We’ve got a big game here. We’ve got the Buffalo Bills, going into Buffalo. The crowd is going to be super loud. They’re always into it, lot of energy.

“ [The TD record is] the last thing I’m thinking about. When it happens, if it happens. There’s another time to talk about it, but as of right now, I’m just focused on the Bills. That’s the last thing I want to talk about.’’

Whether or not it happens Sunday, Gronkowski’s a sure thing to own the record alone. He scored 11 touchdowns last season and 12 in 2014. Now in his seventh season, he has matched Morgan’s mark of 68 touchdowns in just over half the time that Morgan played for the Patriots, from 1977-89.

He’s also approaching historic success with his quarterback. Tom Brady has thrown 66 touchdown passes to Gronkowski, second most all time between a quarterback and a tight end. They trail Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates, who are in their 11th season together, by 13 connections. They are one touchdown away from tying Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne for sixth place all time between a quarterback and any receiver, though still far shy of Manning and Marvin Harrison’s all-time mark of 112.

Should he set the record Sunday, however, Gronkowski estimates that around 20 family members and friends will be at New Era Field to watch him do so. Gronkowski grew up in Amherst, N.Y., just outside of Buffalo.

“Whenever you’re going back to your hometown to play the game you love just growing up, it’s an honor to go back and play in front of your friends, family, your teachers that you grew up with that taught you,’’ Gronkowski said. “Definitely an honor and it’s always fun.’’

If Gronkowski wants to put on a show, he knows he’ll have to study up. Bills coach Rex Ryan’s defense shape-shifts on a game-by-game basis against the Patriots.

“They’ve always varied what they’ve done,’’ said Gronkowski. “You never know what you’re going to get going versus a Rex Ryan defense. Some games he brings no pressure, other games he’s bringing the house every single play.’’

That goes for how Ryan has chosen to cover him, as well.

“I would say that varies, too,’’ said Gronkowski. “I’ve had some games where he’s hit me off the line, double coverage there. I’ve had some games where I’m just single coverage on a linebacker or safety. You’ve just got to be ready for it all.’’

Gronkowski was still nursing a hamstring injury in Week 4 when the Bills visited Foxborough, and he wasn’t employed much in the passing game. This time around, he should be at “full go.’’

Gronkowski has worked through numerous injuries over his seven years in the NFL. He’s retained his sophomoric charm and sense of humor, but said he’s matured as a route runner. Learning when to go down and avoid extra hits was part of that process.

“I remember a couple times my rookie year, I just try and ‘boom,’ ’’ he said. “I remember I’d be like, ‘Oh, that one hurt.’ It hurt to go one more inch. So definitely when the journey is over and you know you gave it all, you’re not going to be able to carry five guys, sometimes not even two guys.

“Whenever you just feel like you need to get down, you need to get down. It’s a physical game. Every play is going to be physical, so save it for the next one.’’

With maturity comes added patience, and Gronkowski said he’s in no hurry to find the end zone as long as the Patriots are finding success. He’s probably alone in that, at least among those who will be watching on Sunday. Just the celebration should be worth the price of admission.

Nora Princiotti can be reached at nora.princiotti@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @NoraPrinciotti.