HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL

Postgame Press Conference
Monday, December 1, 2025

Q: Your thoughts on getting to this point, the energy that your team came out with, the hitting, and what they were able to accomplish? And now as you're headed to the bye?

MV: Well, I'm happy to be at the bye. Happy to be where we're at. Continue to improve. We have to finish better, but at least we came out ready to go. We focused on being aggressive and attacking and keeping that mindset. And I think we did.

Q: Just curious, with Vederian Lowe and Ben Brown sliding in, how did you feel they did tonight? You talked pregame about the Giants defensive front and how that was going to be a challenge. How those two handled it stepping in.

MV: I think they handled it well. I mean, we had some positive plays, obviously, offensively. We need to be better in the red zone. But I thought they did well, again, from first view. We'll have to see what things go on tomorrow. There was a penalty that cost us a touchdown so that's tough. So a lot of things to build on and continue to improve and really focus on things that we'll have to do a little bit better down the stretch. But just proud of what the team has done week in, week out, whatever the challenge was, and whatever has been presented to us.

Q: Pretty consistent and loud MVP chants for Drake tonight. What impressed you most about his performance?

MV: I think he's able to keep his composure, keep his eyes down field. I thought some of the best plays, I think, are just the extensions, the scramble for a first down, the scramble and to stay in bounds there late in the game. Knowing the situation, forces them to call a timeout. And then not throwing an incompletion there at the end of the game and scramble unselfishly -- he probably could have said, hey, I'm going to try to throw a touchdown, and go and slide and use the clock. Those are the things that probably don't show up on the stat sheet. I thought being accurate down field and being able to give Kayshon a real catchable ball there in the end zone was nice, too.

Q: Also, it's December 1st. How much longer are you going to keep the mustache?

MV: It will be gone tomorrow. I couldn't have done all this and not go out on Monday Night Football. It will be gone tomorrow. Probably before I talk to you.

Q: How would you describe just the message in terms of knowing the bye week was looming, knowing the Giants came in with two wins, and just making sure that your guys -- you came out so fired up. What was that messaging in that way?

MV: I don't know how many wins they've had. I know they get ahead, and they had Denver beat and had some other teams beat, put a bunch of points and yards up on Detroit and Chicago and all those other teams. I think it was about just being aggressive and attacking and trying to keep a competitive stamina throughout the game and a demeanor no matter what happened. And I liked the way we started and would like to have finished a little better. But we're doing a lot of good things to help us win. And I know there's some things we can do to continue to improve on.

Q: You've said "being aggressive" and "attacking" a couple of times. Does the way -- some of the way that Christian Elliss had some of those bigger hits at the beginning of the game, is that something that everybody feeds off of? Is that something that gives your guys a lift?

MV: I think our guys certainly did. I think our fans did. I think our team did. It's a weekly reminder to the quarterback, our quarterback -- we show them every week, I wouldn't get too cute over there by the sidelines. It happens every week. So Christian's playing through the whistle, and as long as the player's inbounds he's going to try to hit him legally. And on the kickoff, we take a lot of pride in covering kicks. It was a match-up. They were top five -- they were No. 5, and we were No. 6 in kickoff and we expect us to be in top five. And that's what I tell our coverage team. It was good to see the impact it can make and turning the ball over as well.

Q: How important was it to keep momentum heading into the bye?

MV: I mean, I don't know if I looked at it like that, but I think we just focused on what the next task was and put a plan together and allow our players to feel confident in it and then figure out what the bye week is and who needs to be here for treatment and who needs to get away. That's kind of really what we focus us. I don't think I was necessarily concerned with any sort of let-down because the bye was here. I think that there would be a lot of players and people that are ready for the bye and earned it. But I don't think that we were looking ahead to anything.

Q: Kind of similar, but 10 straight wins now. Week after week, you guys keep taking care of business and avoiding the slipup. What's been the key to not having one of those?

MV: Just things we talk about and doing our best to take care of the football and playing complementary. Today was obviously special teams that gave us a -- Marcus [Jones] is just a fantastic returner, and I'm proud of the guys on that unit. They take a lot of pride in blocking for him. We took care of the guys on the edges. Those are tough. Those can be back-breaking for an opponent. So we try to do everything we can to avoid them, and we try to create them. So I think just the complementary phases, staying consistent in the messages and players coming in here each and every week and practicing and preparing and obviously executing. And then when things don't go right, try to get them fixed and come back the next drive.

Q: Whether it's working around injuries, a short week, just using new personnel packages and play calls, the resourcefulness of your team, what's it meant to you this season?

MV: Our staff, I'm always very thankful for the coaches that prepare our players; they've done a fantastic job. Josh [McDaniels] and Zak [Kuhr] and the defensive staff, and Jeremy with the special teams and helping spread the message that I try to have each and every week. But ultimately it's on the players. It will always be about the players and trying to give them a plan that they believe in and that they can go out there and execute. Whether that's different guys at different places, I'm proud of them and I'm happy for them that they can have some success. And I think people can see who we have, and the next guy steps up and can play and produce.

Q: What did you think of Drake's performance tonight? He seemed to be in control and didn't seem to be bothered by the issues with the offensive line, with guys out?

MV: Yeah, I wouldn't say that was an issue. We just put the next two guys in there. And Ben's been ready for his opportunity. Vederian has been working hard and worked hard in the offseason to come back from his shoulder. And, so, again, get those guys a full week of practice. I thought Drake is -- I think he's realizing what he can be and what the impact that he makes on this offense and being the conductor. He's hard on himself. I think that he challenges himself as well as his coaches. He means a great deal to this football team. And just being able to not get rattled and escape or pressure and find Rhamondre or scramble -- then when we do have time and he sees a guy win, he put a ball in a great spot for Kyle to make a huge play or Kayshon down in the red zone. A lot of third-down conversions. So, again, very appreciative that he's our quarterback.

Q: Can you speak to the effort of the defensive line, with so many guys missing or banged up? And Elijah Ponder getting more opportunities inside as well.

MV: Cory Durden's been playing a lot for us, and we brought him over here from the Giants practice squad, or from the Giants. They let him go. And that game meant a lot to him. They told him he wasn't good enough to play for the Giants, and we thought he was good enough to play for the Patriots. So I'm happy for him. Made some plays and continues to help us but also help himself. And I love that. You mentioned Ponder. Just trying to get some other guys in there rushing with some speed. And obviously their quarterbacks can scramble and run. And we just felt like that was a package that we could try to use and get some other people out on the field.

QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE

Postgame Press Conference
Monday, December 1, 2025

Q: How much did you and the team just kind of feed off the energy? You guys came out with a lot of energy, too. Where did that come from? What was that like to watch all three phases kind of take it to them from the start?

DM: I think it was perfect with Coach saying, "no naps." You want to come in here and start fast. This team has been up in a lot of games and they got good players over there and some good talent. We wanted to try to get on them fast, and Marcus helped us with that. What a return for him. And the kickoff return -- I mean kickoff coverage. And I think all phases of the game showed up at different points of the game. And I still think, offensively, the second half, we have to put more drives together to put the game out of reach.

Q: Coach Vrabel just said you're realizing what you can be and the impact that you make on the offense. What is that to you?

DM: Shoot, just trying to be the face, trying to be the conductor. He calls it the conductor of the offense. Just trying to be the face of the offense. Trying to -- you know, want the pressure. You want the ball in my hands. I tried to show that all year and throughout my career. That's what I kind of feel like. I know they feed off of me and feed off of my energy and feed off of what I say to those guys. And what I say means something to them. So when adversity hits, I've got to respond. And from there I've got to be the same guy, same guy every day. Don't try to change, and just be myself. That's what the guys like the most.

Q: I was going to stay on Coach Vrabel. You hear those MVP chants a lot -- whether you hear them or not, they're there. Do you think he's mounting maybe a campaign for coach of the year? And he also promised to shave the mustache. Are you happy or sad about that?

DM: I thought it looked good. It was for a great cause. The award, I think he'd probably say the same thing, (indiscernible) each and every week, and that stuff will come. He's got my vote and he's got a lot of people's vote. He's got everybody's vote in this organization and in that locker room and I'm sure across the league.

Q: Your coach referenced the hit the other quarterback got and playing through the whistle. He intimated that that might have been a subtle reminder to you on certain plays on being careful about being taken down hard. So, I guess two quick questions. Did that resonate with you in any fashion? And was there any winking or eye contact from your coach after that play?

DM: No, I think it's something that's been across the league that has showed up with quarterbacks near the boundary or near the sideline just kind of relaxing. And I think I learned last year, the Chargers I had one on that same sideline over there. I got smacked on the sideline. So just be smart and know you've almost got to accelerate or get down or do something over there. I think Jaxson, he made some good plays with his feet, so he's tough to handle.

Q: Did coach look at you, give you one of these or anything like that?

DM: I don't think he needed to. You heard the hit from the sideline. I think everybody in the stadium knew.

Q: Just as far as tonight, what went as planned and what might have surprised you, if anything?

DM: I think starting fast. I think starting fast when it's planned, that's what we wanted to do. I think we had some play designs that Coach had, and we practiced all week that worked. And I think that's the biggest thing, is that we knew they had a new coordinator calling it for the first time, so they're going to bring some stuff that we didn't expect. I think we tried to handle guys up front, had a great rush, great players up front. I thought the guys did that all night. The one sack we had was my fault. I think from there, Coach saying no naps. I think we did a better job in the second half of living that and putting them out of reach and getting across midfield and putting the drive together to score a touchdown.

Q: Backups today at left tackle and left guard, what was the key for you guys on offense to kind of minimize that impact, I guess?

DM: I told them I had full faith in them. We had a lot of reps last year dropping back and trusting those guys. I think they're great players, and they've stepped up, like I said, in pregame. I think they stepped up all year anybody thrown in the fire. Proud of them. Proud of them for working hard and learning this offense and staying on the same page and being on the same page all night and doing a great job tonight.

Q: How cognizant were you guys of the bye and wanting to win going into the bye? And secondly, how much of a need is this team in need of this bye from both a physical and mental standpoint?

DM: I think wanting to win before the bye, want to win every game. Kind of don't want to leave off on the bye on a bad foot home, Monday night game. It was important for us to play on Monday night and show up for our fans, and it was a game that we didn't want to take lightly. I think the guys did that, proud of the guys for that. Bye week is huge. Felt like a long time coming, but we're here, and we have some important football after the bye week. We're looking forward to staying and getting healthy having guys that want to get better and get some guys back and make a push when football starts to count down the road.

Q: Have you ever been on this kind of roll in either this sport or any sport, hoops, golf, anything?

DM: Golf, I like that. This summer, I was on a roll a little bit, but I think back in high school, we won 13 straight, but no really I think in college we may have won eight or nine straight, both in football. But this is a different beast. This is the NFL.

Q: You personally?

DM: Me personally? What do you mean by that?

Q: Your play.

DM: My play? Sorry, I don't know what you're asking.

Q: You kind of backboning 10 straight wins.

DM: Shoot, I wish it was all me. There's a lot of people in this locker room, this organization, that play a big role in us winning games. And shoot, just like you, showing up every day and making fun of you all for being in the locker room on a Friday asking us questions after practice, these guys are the same thing. They show up every day and they want to get better. And just proud of the guys and this team we have and love being around them.

Q: They scored to make it a two-possession game. Was there any discussion going into your final drive just to ice the game?

DM: Yeah, it was big. It was big in the second half. We knew that they had a good offense and can move the ball. So, we had to put a drive together, put one down at the end to kick a field goal. Like I said we won't be satisfied with that. Gotta try to punch it in, get the game really out of reach. But our defense is big, made big stops in the fourth quarter all year long. And just proud of these guys, like I said, and the good Lord has treated us right and we have to keep going. So, thank you, guys.

ADDITIONAL PATRIOTS PLAYERS

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB

(On Drake Maye's performance)

"It's super cool, I'm proud of him. He's doing a great job back there, just being a conductor of the offense, I see it. He's a baller, he's a baller every week and that's not really a surprise. He shows up Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, ready to work and it pays off on Sundays."

(On if there is any surprise at their 11-2 record)

"No, I'm not surprised. Since we came in, and at OTAs, we set a standard for ourselves. I feel like all the players bought into it, and I feel like it's paying off."

(On why OTAs were so important)

"Just that a lot of people were there, everybody showed up, ready to work. We set a standard for ourselves. I won't get into exactly what that was, but I feel like we all bought into that and we're still staying on that."

(On Mike Vrabel as a coach)

"He's been in our shoes before, he's done it before at a high level. He's won some Super Bowls and caught some touchdown passes, he's done it all. It's easy to listen to him and follow behind his lead."

TreVeyon Henderson, RB

(On how Mike Vrabel has gotten the team to buy in)

"I think just the way he is able to connect with the players and he's played this game, of course, so he's really understanding. I think just the passion that he has for the game as well. When it comes to coaching, he has a lot of passion. He does a great job of just pointing to the guys on the team."

(On what Drake has done for the team this season)

"I think the most important thing is lead us, he's such a great leader for this offense. He's helped me out so much, just teaching me the ropes, talking about a lot of different things. It's good, we continue to take reps together, it's great for both of us."

(On where this team can go)

"I think we can go pretty far. The biggest thing is we don't want to get too ahead of ourselves, we just want to continue to take it week by week, game by game, day by day, and continue winning."

Stefon Diggs, WR

(On playing with Drake Maye this season)

"It's been exciting, as far as with a young quarterback, showing a lot of promise, a lot of confidence. Coming from a quarterback position and being young, it's obviously something there. But I think the biggest thing is, he comes in each and every day and he's the same guy. He approaches the game like a professional and he has a lot of fun. And he's super hard on himself."

(On what makes this team special)

"Probably the camaraderie, guys really pulling for each other. It's not fake out there. You want the guys to play well, you want the guys around you to play well. Throwing those extra blocks and doing all that. I think it goes a long way…we're super hard on each other. I think the accountability is there, coming from when a guy doesn't get as many yards or does this, we all hold each other accountable."

(On what he sees in Kyle Williams after his touchdown)

"The consistency. He is a young guy, but he can roll, he's fast, he's savvy. He's been open a lot. They haven't connected throughout the year but it's around that time that those banked reps that you've had, and that consistency that you put on tape of getting open, start to turn the corner for you. So, super happy for him."

(On what it has been like playing for Coach Mike Vrabel)

"It's exciting. We talk about him, I speak highly of him. I respect him as a coach. He is one of my favorite coaches up to this point. I look forward to building off of that. It's been a very, very fun year. A lot of things have taken place, coming off an injury, being around a new group of guys. He's made the transition real seamless as far as helping the team band together, spending time together, getting to know each other, and appreciating him as a man."

Kayshon Boutte, WR

(On their dominant performance before the bye week)

"I think it was good. It was a big challenge for us tonight. As y'all can see, never take no opponent lightly. But like you said, 10 in a row, we know what we can do, day in, day out. It's all a result of what we do in practice, so I think focus on the bye week, get our bodies healthy, then come back ready to roll for Buffalo."

(On how he feels physically)

"I mean, it feels good. Nobody really wants to not be playing football. We've been doing it since we was five, seven years old. So it feels great to be back."

(On how proud he is of the locker room)

"It is a result of how we practice. But I think just being the way last season ended, just putting that behind us, a new season, and new turning point. So, I think it's great. We're sitting at 11-2 right now, so I mean, it's great. Can't ask for a better feeling."

(On if he is ever surprised by how often Drake Maye throws into the end zone)

"No, it doesn't surprise me. We see it every day. It is just a result of what we see every day. Just translating it from practice to the game."

Kyle Williams, WR

(On Drake Maye's ball placement)

"I mean, it is unbelievable. You know, sometimes you just sit there and be like, that is too good to be true. But, you know, he has a great arm talent. He sees the field very well, and overall, I am just so proud of him."

(On the wide receiver room's joyful attitude approaching practice and games)

"It is hard not to feel it. As soon as you walk through the building, you see we share a whole locker, so we are always just cracking jokes and uplifting everybody. It is hard to be in a bad mood when you've got so many joyful people around you."

(On what the season has taught him about staying ready for opportunities)

"Just being patient. You never know when something is going to come. You just always got to be ready. It's a saying, 'Stay ready so you don't have to get ready.' You don't want to wait until it is the last day or the moment. Even if things are not going your way, stay on your routine because at some point it's going to be when the things you were doing before are going to help you out in the long run."

(On how the coaching staff enables different players to contribute every week)

"I mean, he (Coach Vrabel) demands a lot from us, you know, in a good way. He is really positive and everything. He tells everybody, prepare to start. So, you don't go into a week not thinking you are going to play. You go into a week, even if you're not starting, you go in there prepared to feel like you're going to play. So, we have everybody prepared like starters, and everybody is ready to play. It is easy to just have anybody pop out at any moment. So, I think we just got a team full of dogs, and we are going to keep doing it."

(On his journey so far this season)

"I mean, it has been unbelievable. It has been great. I have never been a part of an 11-win team. So, you know, this is new, but I'm taking it all in. But we know we have bigger goals."

Vederian Lowe, T

(On going into the bye off a dominant win)

"It feels great. At the end of the day, all we want to do is keep stacking them. We practice hard all week. Vrabes (Mike Vrabel) prepares us really well. It was good to go out there and put it all on tape."

(On having 11 wins heading into the bye week)

"We have put in so much work, just the team itself, at OTAs, camp and preseason. Coach Vrabel has not taken his foot off the gas one time, and we've all bought in, so this isn't a surprise."

(On seamlessly stepping into a starting role on the offensive line)

"It's really just a lot of talking, preparation and making sure that we know the game plan in and out — just communicating and making sure we're on the same page. At the end of the day, we knew if we just talked to one another and we made sure we were on the same page, we would be fine… It definitely helps having a full week of preparation, getting all the tips and reminders from the coaches and what they see throughout the week. It definitely helps, 100 percent. They laid together a plan for the rushers they (Giants) have. The Giants have a great front, a lot of athleticism, and we went out there and executed."

Christian Elliss, LB

(On his hit on Jaxson Dart along the sideline)

"During the play, I saw the scramble. I started chasing him down. He started tiptoeing on the sideline. I thought he was just going to go out of bounds, but then I saw him tiptoeing. When I saw he was going to stay in bounds, what am I supposed to do? We play hard on defense. We try to bring life to this team. That is all I was trying to do, was just do my job and hit anything in the white jerseys."

(On the bye week before the final stretch of the regular season)

"Yeah, you know, it is good. It is a good opportunity to be able to reflect, reflect on this game, reflect on the season so far, while being able to rest our bodies. So, it is a good feeling to be able to get here. All the guys in the locker room, this is a unit that we play hard for, that we will lay our lives on the line for one another, and that is what we try to do. Kudos to them, first and foremost, and thank the Lord, my God, that we were able to get to this point."

(On how he would attribute the Patriots' success this season)

"Without the abilities given to us by God, we would not be here. We would not be able to perform on the field. We would not have another breath, another moment. So, first things first, giving glory to God. The second thing is going to the head man and setting the tone and tempo. How we want to play, who we want to be. I would say, lastly, is the guys in the locker room. It is easy to come to work here. It is easy to come to work and work with the guys in there. We love doing it. I love doing it, and it just makes a lot of things easier. It is not like that everywhere."

(On how much fun this season has been after struggles in previous years)

"Yeah, you know, trials and tribulations produce character. Then they also produce endurance. So, looking back on it, yeah, it was hard. But I'm thankful that it happened, thankful that we were able to learn from it, grow from it, and then be able to carry it on to this year. I think we have done a good job of that."

(On the Giants' reaction to his hit on Jaxson Dart)

"Yeah, well, I understand it. I understand it, 100%. If that was Drake [Maye] who took that shot, we would probably react the exact same way. But for me, I was more excited, just ready to celebrate with my teammates. So, I was ready to go celebrate with all the guys on the sideline. I saw him come flying in. I was like, oh, yeah, we are good."

Christian Gonzalez, CB

(On starting the way they did)

"Yeah, it was good to get out there and get ahead of them quick and then be able to play from ahead. That is always good. Shoutout to the offense. Shoutout to Marcus [Jones], that always sparks a lot of momentum. In each game he has returned a touchdown, it has just sparked the offense and defense. So, that is a big weapon we have. As a defense, it is always 'get the ball to Drake [Maye] or get the ball to Marcus.' It was a good win, good way to come out fast and finish the game."

(On the impact Marcus Jones has)

"He was voted captain for a reason. He has a voice and he uses it. Everybody, we look to him, especially in the secondary. We are real close in the secondary. He plays a big role, being nickel. He has got to travel around, he has got to do a lot of things that are on your plate while you are playing nickel. He handles it amazing and being in the locker room, he is one of the most energetic guys in there. At eight in the morning, he is in there smiling, laughing, joking. Sometimes we tell him, 'Alright, Marcus, you have got to calm down a little.' But no, he is amazing. It is awesome, him being in the back seven for sure and on the team."

(On the hit on Jaxson Dart around the sidelines)

"Oh yeah, that sparks some energy. Especially on their sideline. It was a clean, legal hit. We can never relax on the football field. So, [Christian] Elliss was able to go over there, make a play, and they retaliated, and it helped us even more. It sparked momentum. It is always fun being on defense with linebackers that can go up and hit like that."

Marcus Jones, CB

(On his performance as a returner)

"First off, I think of those situations where my dad had me in a parking lot when I was like four years old. And he used to throw the ball in the air and be like, 'track it.' That was the first thing I thought about. It is a long journey, especially with punt returners. Not everyone wants to do it, but I find a lot of joy when it comes down to it. But at the end of the day, ever since I got into the league, I would say the guys that have been blocking for me, I commend them 24/7. Without them, I would not be able to get any yards, I can honestly say. I commend my guys out there and everything like that, I try to just make them right. They do the hard part out there. I just follow the blocks and go from there."

(On learning from Troy Brown)

"Yeah, I have seen him before the game. We go way back and everything like that. He taught me a lot when it comes down to catching punts and watching his film. He was one of the best to ever do it."

(On the punt return for a touchdown, and his thoughts when it was just the punter to beat)

"Yeah, my main thing was, 'do not get tackled by the punter.' But I would say also, the field was kind of shrinking so I was trying to stay up and do my guys right for sure."

Carlton Davis III, CB

(On the defensive pressure on Jaxson Dart)

"That's what our coaches talk about, disguising and showing different looks. Zak (Kuhr) is doing a good job of calling and certain calls with us making it look like one coverage, but we're putting up another coverage, something we've been doing all year. Right now, as a defense, we're really just working together and playing good ball."