Patriots Feature Friday: Mike Vrabel Prepares the Patriots for Rematch with Bills.

Joseph McLaughlin
4 hours ago
3 min read

With the late bye week, Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel got a chance to catch his breath. After all, he had done a lot of work for his former team: He led the Pats on a 10-game winning streak, reinvented the team’s culture, and turned a 4-13 team into one of the best teams in the NFL. He and the team deserved some rest, but Vrabel made his expectations clear this week.

“It’s time to get back to work,” he said to Scott Zolak in an interview.

Vrabel is right, it is time for the Patriots to return to the grind as there is a lot at stake this weekend. The Patriots get a rematch with their division rival, the Buffalo Bills, with a chance to claim the AFC East title and become the first team to clinch a postseason berth.

It is also a game that is followed by a road matchup with a desperate Baltimore Ravens team, the Miami Dolphins, who have surged into playoff contention, and the New York Jets to close out the regular season. The Patriots have had great success because of Vrabel, but the month of December is the most important of the season, and Vrabel is stressing that to his team.

“I felt like getting back on Monday was good for us,” said Vrabel. “Going against each other, getting moving a little bit, start getting the fundamentals. You can’t let that stuff slide late in the year.”

Vrabel emphasized the importance of perfecting and maintaining good technique in all facets of the game, as it is critical to the sport, especially in this part of the year. The good news for the Patriots is that the players respect their coach and have bought into this mindset.

The turnaround is astounding, no matter how one looks at it. A year ago at this time, the Patriots were 3-10, eliminated from the playoffs, and far away from the thought of postseason contention. Now, Vrabel helped build a team that is playing like family, is white-hot with tons of momentum, and is making his case for Coach of the Year.

“He's got my vote,” said Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye after New England’s win over the New York Giants. “He’s got everybody's vote in this organization and in that locker room, and I'm sure across the league.”

Vrabel did win Coach of the Year in 2021 with the Tennessee Titans, leading them to a 12-5 record and the #1 seed in the AFC. The Patriots are fortunate to have a Coach of the Year candidate on the sidelines, especially in a big game like Sunday’s.

Vrabel has a lot of respect for the Bills, their MVP quarterback, and their running game, noting that they are a great football team and it will take everything to win this game. Staying balanced, changing up plays to throw the Bills off balance, and working together as a team are the keys to winning.

“One of the best things my dad ever taught me was the value of being a part of a team,” said Vrabel. “He taught me how critical that was; he taught me hard work, but he taught me the value of giving yourself to a team, and I’ll always appreciate that.”

Vrabel will be on the sidelines leading the Patriots against the Bills in search of their first AFC East title since 2019. A win will capture the division, secure a playoff berth, a playoff home game, and make New England’s case for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. Winning the division was Vrabel’s goal when he took the Patriots Head Coaching job earlier this year; now he has an opportunity to do that and then some.