Mike Vrabel Reflects On Patriots Reaching Afc Championship Game

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When Mike Vrabel was introduced past January arsenic nan 16th caput coach in New England Patriots’ franchise history, he group a clear extremity for some himself and nan statement arsenic a full — an nonsubjective which immoderate (at nan time) believed to beryllium a spot overly ambitious.

"Our goals will beryllium to triumph nan AFC East, to big location playoff games, and to compete for championships," Vrabel said from his introductory property convention podium astatine Gillette Stadium. “That's going to beryllium nan expectation, and we're going to activity for illustration crazy.”

Just 1 twelvemonth later, Vrabel is astir to lead his squad to its 16th AFC Championship Game quality and first since their tally to their sixth Super Bowl title nether Bill Belichick successful nan 2018 season. While nan ‘HC of nan NEP’ is eager to get to activity successful mentation for nan Pats’ showdown pinch nan Denver Broncos astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High, he did return a infinitesimal to bespeak connected nan accomplishments successful nan aftermath of his team’s 28-16 Divisional Round triumph complete nan Houston Texans.

“I'm ever excited for our organization, excited for nan players,” Vrabel said. “I americium appreciative of their activity and their efforts. Everybody's stepping up. We're utilizing everybody. Everybody's making plays. Everybody's helping america win.

"I'm excited for these guys, but also, they're not satisfied, and I tin show that … We cognize we person to spell connected nan roadworthy … No. 1 seed successful nan AFC … it isn’t going to beryllium easy.”

Mike Vrabel Has Brought a New Day to nan New England Patriots

To opportunity that New England has thrived nether Vrabel’s activity whitethorn beryllium an understatement. After consecutive 4-13 finishes successful 2023 and 2024, nan 50-year-old has instilled some an fierce style of shot connected nan field, arsenic good arsenic a civilization of accountability passim nan team. Accordingly, the Patriots have go 1 of nan astir breathtaking and fundamentally-sound shot teams successful nan league.

Meticulous successful his planning, yet acquainted successful his style of squad management, Vrabel appears to person struck nan due statement to guarantee cohesion betwixt nan players, coaches and nan beforehand office. Still, he credits nan bulk of his occurrence to remaining focused connected nan adjacent task — moreover erstwhile celebrating nan team’s first section title since 2019, arsenic good arsenic earning their first convention title crippled berth successful that span.

Accordingly, Vrabel and nan Patriots will soon move their attraction to nan Broncos. Like nan Pats, Denver besides began nan play 1-3 earlier going 13-1 nan remainder of nan way. While nan Broncos andPatriots each vanished 14-3 successful nan regular season, Denver was awarded nan apical seed based connected their grounds complete communal opponents. Denver’s erstwhile triumph complete nan Las Vegas Raiders gave them nan communal force tiebreaker — fixed that nan Pats mislaid to nan Raiders successful Week 1. The Broncos will coming a formidable situation to either team, having vanished nan regular play classed No. 2 successful scoring defense successful nan NFL, allowing 18.3 points per game.

Though his eventual task has yet to beryllium completed, Vrabel remains cognizant that his astir pressing extremity for nan upcoming week is to support his squad squarely focused connected nan Broncos — moreover amid nan hype of nan highest-profile crippled astir of his players will person knowledgeable successful nan NFL. Fortunately for nan Patriots, their caller caput coach embodies a accuracy that should beryllium rather acquainted to nan Foxborough religious — that of taking 1 crippled astatine a time.

“We cognize nan stadium is going to beryllium loud. So nan louder nan better,” Vrabel said. “Every opportunity -- I deliberation what we've done is we've asked them to clasp nan preparation, clasp nan strain and besides bask each infinitesimal of this [victory] … But mostly bask nan execution. We'll support doing that. We'll travel retired and beryllium fresh to go.”

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