After finishing the regular season strongly, the New England Patriots are ready for a wild-card run. Their next target is the Los Angeles Chargers, the very team Mike Vrabel once interviewed to lead. It is natural for Vrabel to use his failed interview as ‌extra motivation on Monday night. But the coach’s latest words suggest old conversations may not shape this playoff week.

On January 5, Mike Vrabel addressed the media ahead of their Wild Card clash with the Chargers at Gillette Stadium. The conversation briefly turned to his past. He was reminded of his rejection by the Chargers for the head coach role and asked whether it would have any impact on the upcoming game. The coach immediately brushed off the idea. 

“No. That’s everything that I do and every second that I spend preparing will be to help the players,” he said. “That’s [Los Angeles Chargers] a well-run organization. Spanos family is a good one, but no. No extra motivation.”

Additionally, he was asked if any team had approached him or the Patriots regarding members of his coaching staff or front office. He said he wasn’t aware of any such developments. Meanwhile, Vrabel’s interview with the Chargers goes back to January 2024, when he was coming off an unexpected firing by the Tennessee Titans. 

Later that month, he flew to Los Angeles for his first-ever interview for the head coach position after leaving Tennessee. After the sacking of Brandon Staley, the franchise was eyeing a candidate with prior head coaching experience. Vrabel checked that box with his meaningful six-year-long stint with the Titans from 2018 to 2023.

It’s easy to see why the Chargers were interested; Vrabel had forged a tough, competitive identity in Tennessee, guiding the team to a 56-48 record, winning the divisional crown twice, and an AFC Championship game appearance in 2019, making his sudden availability a hot commodity on the coaching market.

Despite being a serious candidate, he lost the position to Jim Harbaugh, who has continued to lead the Chargers. With that chapter long closed, Mike Vrabel focuses on leading the Patriots into a playoff battle. And he has already made his observations and noted things that could pose as hurdles next week. 

Mike Vrabel analyzes the defensive challenges before the playoffs

New England’s head coach has locked horns with Jim Harbaugh’s team three times in his career. And he holds a 2-1 record in those games. His last meeting with the team came in 2023 when the Titans edged them out in a 27–24 overtime win. However, the upcoming game will be relatively unfamiliar to his Patriots squad, which has not clashed with the Chargers this season. During his appearance on The Greg Hill Show, Mike Vrabel didn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges. 

“This is a big, physical football team. Big linemen,” he said. “They have a big defensive lineman who plays fullback…Defensively, they make it hard on you, a bunch of different mixed quarters coverages. The quarterback is as good as anybody. He can scramble, he’s tough, can make the throws. He’s got big receivers. It’ll be a big challenge to get going on these guys….”

While speaking at a press conference on Monday, he praised the defensive unit. This time, he noted their tackling, red-zone efficiency, and ability to get off the field on third down. He also highlighted how the Chargers lead the NFL in time of possession and don’t let panic take over. However, there’s a crack that the Patriots can capitalize on. 

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The Chargers’ offensive line has struggled to find its footing this season. If the Patriots can slow down the run and force quarterback Justin Herbert to drop back, they can swing the momentum in their direction. Also, we’re talking about a team that has lost just three times this season. So, winning momentum can also help amid the playoff pressure.