After a 4-13 season under head coach Jared Mayo, the New England Patriots were aiming for a mulligan this season. But Bill Belichick protege, head coach Mike Vrabel, surprised everyone with a 14-3 run and a second seed in the AFC. However, for them, the season isn’t over. Heading into the playoffs against the Los Angeles Chargers, the first-year head coach reaffirmed their plan with a subtle warning.

“We’ll get ready and get rolling and do what we do every week,” Vrabel said.

And what Vrabel and the squad have been doing is win games. Under the first-year head coach, the Patriots’ offense, which ranked 30th in the league, scoring only 17 points per game, now ranks fourth overall, averaging over 26 points per game, according to PFF. The defense, too, now ranks 13th overall. But Vrabel’s approach to the game isn’t complicated.

On his to-do list is figuring out their best available players and preparing them to gel with quarterback Drake Maye. In the offseason, he made sure he got the right tools. Take their 2025 draft picks. They brought in Will Campbell, who, despite suffering a season-ending injury, made enough initial impact on the team.

Then, TreVeyon Henderson, Jared Wilson, and Craig Woodson have already started most of the games and helped Maye in multiple aspects. Moreover, the quarterback himself has improved the offense tenfold this season by averaging a league-high 71.7 percent completions for 30 touchdowns and 4,203 yards. He is also leading the NFL with 8.9 yards per attempt and a 112.9 QB rating this season.

Moreover, their defense dominates with players like Harold Landry, K’Lavon Chaisson, Milton Williams, Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and Marcus Jones. And that’s why Vrabel already knows what will be highlighting his gameplan:

“That’s all we’ve done all year, and that’s all we’ll be able to do this week in the playoffs,” Vrabel added.

It’s hard to argue with the approach.

That consistency now brings playoff football back to Gillette Stadium. Vrabel’s team will host the Chargers in the AFC Wild Card round, with the kickoff time to be set after Sunday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens.

History leans in New England’s favor. During the Bill Belichick–Tom Brady era, the Patriots faced the Chargers three times in the postseason and won all three. Overall, New England is 3–1 against Los Angeles in playoff matchups. There’s another layer to this one. The last time the Patriots hosted a playoff game was Jan. 4, 2020, a night that ended with a 20–13 loss to the Tennessee Titans and marked Brady’s final game in a New England uniform.

That memory still lingers around the building. This time, the circumstances are different, and they have a chance to write a different ending. And while the new blood has shown all signs of successful rebuilding in the regular season, Mike Vrabel still has a crucial message for the locker room.

Mike Vrabel’s clear warning to the locker room

The New England Patriots were better than anyone imagined them to be in the regular season. Not only did they snatch the division throne from the Buffalo Bills, but they also absolutely dominated the league. They are on an 8-0 record away from home. No team can say that. But Vrabel knows that he has to start from scratch when the playoffs start, and that’s what he is preaching.

“The wins that matter are the ones we get going forward,” the head coach said.

He’s not wrong. Whether you make the playoffs with 14 wins or 9, the postseason won’t treat you any differently. And he knows what’s at stake. The Patriots haven’t played in a playoff game since January 15, 2022, when they lost to their division rivals, the Buffalo Bills, in the wildcard round.

Top Stories

Cowboys Fire Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus: Contract, Salary, NFL Earnings & More

10 Biggest NFL Draft Busts of the Last Decade, Including Trey Lance and Justin Fields

Andy Reid Sets Record Straight on Travis Kelce’s Chiefs Future As Retirement Question Continue to Mount

Russell Wilson Announces Retirement Stance as Giants QB Shares Hidden Injury News

John Harbaugh’s Feelings Clear on Ravens’ Future as Firing Calls Mount Against HC

However, it is important to note that the Patriots had a comparatively easier schedule this season that helped them quite a bit. They had three of the first four games at home, making it even easier. Additionally, their lack of postseason experience will not help them either.

But Vrabel knows that the team at his disposal is very much capable of going all the way. Anything less than a Super Bowl will be a disappointing season. Add in the fact that so many top teams are missing from the playoffs. There’s no better chance to get their hands on the Lombardi than this year. They need to lock in. And Vrabel is making sure they do.