There are plenty of reasons to celebrate what the Patriots did on Sunday night in Buffalo, coming up with a gritty, 23-20, win to end the Bills‘ 14-game home winning streak and announce that they will, at least, be contenders for a playoff spot and perhaps even the AFC East this season. Credit can be spread far and wide: the play of quarterback Drake Maye; the veteran leadership and performance of Stefon Diggs; rookie kicker Andy Borregales, who made the 53-yarder in the final seconds to win the game; the Patriots defense that forced three turnovers.
Or you could fold all those celebrations into one, perhaps the guy who deserves the most credit for what was done on Sunday. That would be coach Mike Vrabel.
And for a longtime Patriots hater, professionally and spiritually, giving that kind of credit to a fellow coach–especially a New England coach–isn’t easy. But on Monday, Rex Ryan had to tip his hat to Vrabel.
Mike Vrabel Has Made a ‘Night and Day’ Difference
Speaking on ESPN’s morning show, “Get Up,” on Monday, Ryan–who coached both the Jets and Bills during the heyday of the Patriots dynasty–said he came away from Sunday night most impressed by Vrabel, who was hired by New England in January after going 4-13 under Jerrod Mayo last year.
“The most impressive thing wasn’t Drake Maye to me. It was Mike Vrabel,” Ryan said. “This football team–look at the difference he has already had on this football team. I mean, it’s night and day. Night and day. They actually play defense now. They got rookies all over the place, the whole left side of the line is rookies. You ought to be killing them. Well, not so much.
“I am telling you, the difference, it’s him. It’s him. I hate it. Dog-gone I hate it. I want to see the Patriots down.
GettyHead coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots speaks with Drake Maye
Patriots Kept Faith in Stevenson, Borregales
Indeed, Vrabel appears to have changed the Patriots‘ mindset and while he aggressively–some might say too aggressively–cleared players from the previous regimes off the roster, he has been left with a team molded in his own image.
He’s also shown remarkable faith in his players, including Borregales, who missed two extra points in Week 2 but has maintained Vrabel’s confidence. Vrabel also stuck with fumble-prone Rhamondre Stevenson after another fumble on Sunday, in part because of an injury to Antonio Gibson.
Patriots Winning and Rebuilding
But what’s been a pleasant surprise about this team, sitting at 3-2 after five games, is that although there is a long-term rebuilding process in place, there is also the willingness and ability to win now. The Patriots spent over $350 million in contract outlays this offseason, but much of that money is not guaranteed and the team can move on as it fills in its holes with draftees and young players.
They can win and rebuild, simultaneously.
Said Ryan, “Here’s the thing: We know this is a rebuilding year for the Patriots. Without question. But this is what it looks like. That doesn’t mean you can’t win now. So many of these teams say, ‘Well, we’re rebuilding.’ The hell? Rebuilding, you have got to start getting some wins. And that’s what this guy, he is so impressive to me.”
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