New England Patriots
Vrabel also discussed his players being motivated by ESPN predictions, Will Campbell, and the role that winter weather played against the Texans.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stopped by WEEI for his weekly interview with “The Greg Hill Show” on Monday morning following New England’s 28-16 divisional-round playoff win over the Texans.
The Patriots used a dominant defensive performance and some timely Drake Maye touchdown passes amid wintry conditions at Gillette Stadium to overpower Houston.
“Everybody played in the same conditions. I thought it was a little bit of a factor,” Vrabel said of the weather. “I mean I don’t know if it mattered in the outcome of the game, but it was noticeable.”
In just his first season coaching the Patriots, the former New England linebacker has the franchise back in the AFC Championship game. It’s a reality that he’s still coming to grips with.
“S***, we’ve got another one next Monday,” Vrabel joked about his weekly appearances (which run until the end of the season). “You guys are getting free radio.”
The Patriots will face the Broncos in Denver on Sunday (Jan. 25) in the AFC title game. Vrabel joked about the uphill battle of preparing to play inside Empower Field at Mile High.
“Physiologically it takes about a week-and-a-half. They weren’t going to let us go last Thursday to get ready for it,” he deadpanned, referencing the challenge of altitude in Denver.
Here are a few other topics he covered in the interview:
Things to improve
Noting that his team can play better than it showed in the win against Houston, Vrabel kept his remarks succinct on the topic.
Asked specifically what the Patriots need to improve upon, he referenced two things.
“Take care of the ball,” said Vrabel, “and not let the quarterback get hit.”
His personal reaction to ongoing success
Vrabel was hired barely a year ago, and already has a team — which prior to 2025 had endured back-to-back 4-13 seasons — one win from a Super Bowl berth.
He was asked if he can believe himself the incredible turnaround that he’s overseen.
“I joke about this, but I’m probably serious: With no expectations you can’t be disappointed,” Vrabel replied. “So I just try to come to work each day and figure out what it is that we have to do, and if we’re getting ready for games, then I’m going to try to get everybody prepared and try to have a plan.
“And then if not, then we’ll figure out what part of the offseason that we’re in,” he added. “I just haven’t gotten caught up into it too much, and I just want to try to be great to everybody here.”
A response to ESPN’s panel, and motivating players
One of the talking points in the postgame scene on Sunday was the Patriots’ response to a prediction panel from a Friday episode of ESPN’s “NFL Live” in which the analysts unanimously picked the Texans.
While ESPN’s panel seemed to recognize their mistake in real time, it didn’t stop both the Patriots’ official social media account (as well as Cardi B) from trolling the network following New England’s win. Patriots players, and even Vrabel himself seemed aware of the “bulletin board material.”
“I knew they wouldn’t listen to me,” Vrabel quipped about trying to have his players ignore outside distractions.
“Whatever they take to go and play well, I’m all for,” he concluded. “Whatever it is.”
“The thing I appreciate is we’re working together and we’re fighting together to create turnovers,” Vrabel added. “There’s a lot of group efforts going into those turnovers.”
On a broader level, he outlined the basic philosophy he uses to help nullify the perpetual distractions of social media.
“I think there are things that are interesting and there are things that are important, and we try to focus on the things that are important.”
The reaction to Kayshon Boutte’s highlight touchdown catch
One of the standout plays of not just the game but possibly Patriots postseason history was completed by wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who hauled in a 32-yard fourth-quarter touchdown catch with one hand to help New England put the game away against the Texans.
Though he remained stoic in the moment following the catch, Vrabel was asked if he was internally excited after such a tremendous play.
“Sure,” Vrabel admitted, “and I think that just Kayshon’s growth as a person, as a teammate, really just seen him open up since I’ve been here. He’s really trusted [wide receivers coach] Todd Downing and the rest of the receivers. That’s a really good group just from the standpoint of everybody helps, everybody contributes. You saw it again last night.
“I like his competitiveness,” the Patriots’ coach said of the 23-year-old wide receiver. “That showed up last week, that showed up last night, so I’m happy for him.”
His relationship with the players
Former Patriots tight end and WEEI co-host Jermaine Wiggins noted that Vrabel seems to have a genuinely good relationship as a head coach with the players on the team.
He asked Vrabel how he has established and maintained that through the season.
“I try to be as authentic as I possibly can every single day. It’s not all smiles. I mean it’s not,” Vrabel admitted of his day-to-day style.
“I try to get around the building. I try to have some sort of relationship with each and every guy. I appreciate what they do and how they play, their style and demeanor and all that other stuff. I don’t know if I reflect back on it. I appreciate it. I try to do it every single day, not just that little snippet after the game.”
The pressure facing Will Campbell
One Patriots player who did not have an ideal game on Sunday was left tackle Will Campbell, who struggled with talented Texans pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. (who notched three sacks).
Vrabel denied that Campbell (who went on Injured Reserve earlier in the 2025 season) was still dealing with limiting injuries.
“I don’t think there’s anything limiting him,” Vrabel replied. “Will has high expectations himself, and we have high expectations for him too. Each opportunity out there is a learning experience.”
The former defensive player compared left tackle to playing cornerback.
“He’s signed up to play a tough position, just like [Christian Gonzalez] and [Carlton Davis],” said Vrabel. “There are just places where you have to be great, and that’s the investment we make in those players, and those are the guys that we want out there. You just have to come back, bounce back. It just like giving up a pass or a touchdown for a corner. You have to line back up and keep playing.”
When it was noted that Campbell will have another tough matchup on Sunday against the accomplished defensive line of the Broncos, Vrabel summarized it bluntly.
“That’s the league. That’s the NFL.”
Responding to the claims made by Ty Law
In a recent episode of “Patriots All Access,” former New England cornerback (and Hall of Famer) Ty Law offered an eye-opening claim about Vrabel from when the two were teammates in the 2000s.
Law claimed that Vrabel (who played in New England from 2001-2008) was “the party starter” and had a flask filled with liquor in his locker, which teammates would “take a sip” from.
Vrabel was questioned about the claims.
“Ty’s got a lot of stories. He tells a lot of stories. Some are accurate, and some aren’t,” he said.
Did he have actually have a flask in his locker?
“No, I never had a flask in the locker room,” Vrabel explained. “These stories sound good nowadays. Ty sells a liquor for a living, so I’m sure he’s trying to push his product. Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Sports,Football,Mike Vrabel,New England Patriots,NFL#Mike #Vrabel #AFC #Championship #game #Kayshon #Boutte #responding #Laws #claims1768839633
