PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL
PRESS CONFERENCE
December 8, 2025
Q: Mike, you played Buffalo last in Week 5, I believe. How much has changed since then, or is the film for that game still viable for you?
MV: Well, I mean, I think it's always viable. There's a lot that's changed, but I think you can kind of see some of the play styles, matchups, things that they may come back to or things that we need to be more prepared for, and then kind of use that as a place to kind of go from. And then, again, some of the things that they've done really well, I'm sure they'll continue to do and add wrinkles. It's a great challenge.
Q: Mike, do you emphasize or bring up [that it's a] hat and T-shirt game this week for your team?
MV: No, I don't use the hat and T-shirt. We're just trying to play for the championship that we have available this week, and I think it's a great testament to our players that have put us in this position to be able to do that. Again, that's not going to be easy. This is a very good football team. There's a reason that they've won this division five years in a row. A lot of respect for them. They're never out of it, never down, and they may be down, and just like last week, it's a football team that understands that somebody's going to make a play. And then the quarterback is going to give them a chance to the very end.
Q: You're 6-0 as a head coach coming off the bye. With the understanding that it's different years, different teams, different opponents, all that, are there any sort of commonalities when it comes to player focus?
MV: Well, I think that these guys have played well and that's the most important thing, is focusing on what we can realistically try to improve and kind of enhance the stuff that we've been doing okay with, which is what we'll try to do today. I know these guys got some rest, much needed rest, but we've got to crank this thing back up.
Q: Mike, considering the bye was so late in the year, do you learn just a little bit about yourself as you self-scout, or is there things that you look back on and say, "Oh, maybe we've got to lean into this more?"
MV: I mean, I think you kind of know by the way that the season's going, but it's always a good time to take a look at what you've done, what they're looking at analytically and try to figure some of that out, or just say, "Hey, this is a staple of who we are and this is what we're going to do." And try to be good at it.
Q: Mike, you mentioned before the bye that you were expecting some players back after this week. Do you have any injury updates on specific players?
MV: Yeah, some of those guys made practice today. I think, for sure, Wednesday, some of those guys that weren't available. We'll kind of just see where they're at today, but I think we'll be okay come Wednesday.
Q: Mike, the team's relied a lot on rookies this year. What went right in the pre-draft process that brought in such a solid group?
MV: I think we'll get into the player evaluation, scouting, principles and all that stuff later. I think you just have to rely on young guys that you draft. Hopefully you can develop them and have them ready. Some of them have played a larger role than others, and some of them are kind of coming on and that they understand their role, that they have confidence and continue to improve. I think, by and large, the group has done that. We'll need a lot more from them as we move on, as we continue, especially this week, and then we can talk about how we target players and things like that later.
Q: Mike, from your experience as a player and a coach, red zone offense, what are some of the common threads you've seen over the years that make a successful red zone offense other than, obviously, scoring touchdowns?
MV: Well, I mean, you have to have positive plays. You can't go backwards. You can't have penalties that derail drives. Precision is critical – that space is limited. Things happen so much quicker down there. So, we'll have to score, turn those opportunities into touchdowns and we'll have to do a better job defensively when they do get down there.
Q: Mike, when Drake [Maye] was first drafted a lot of comparisons were made to Josh Allen. Now that things have kind of played out a bit, do you see them being more similar or dissimilar in how they approach the game?
MV: I think they're both really good at what they do. Josh probably has got a couple lbs on him and can kind of throws his shoulder in there probably a little bit more than I would want Drake to, but I think they're both great competitors. I think they're – a lot of respect for Josh and just his ability to make something out of nothing. I've enjoyed watching Drake's growth here, but I'm not going to say one's a certain way and one's the other. Just a huge challenge going against a quarterback that's under control, he's got command and just doesn't look panicked or rattled when you rush him, or gets them into the right play call, whatever that may be. Just an excellent, obviously, MVP quarterback.
Q: As you said, Mike, you guys are playing for a division championship this weekend. I'm curious, though, you referred to your players, both with us and then with them after the game on Monday, as champions, you competed like champions, champions are never satisfied. Why use that word when referring to your team?
MV: I think you're probably just reading too much into it. You guys got too much time since the last time we talked. I don't know. I apologize. I could call them something else, but then you guys would yell at me for using that language.
Q: Mike, this is a bit of a weird one, but coming out of the bye, doing something kind of league-wide on the trend of teams posting after a win, the head coach locker room thing. Has it changed your mindset at all going in there, knowing that fans are going to see everything you do and say?
MV: Well, they don't – I mean, I get the final say on that. Stretch [John Streicher] can edit that to make it look as good as we want. I think that our content team does a fantastic job – and the content teams across the league – to bring our fans really great access, something that's inside the locker room, as quickly as they can get that turned around. And so, I appreciate what they do. I think it's fantastic. I don't give it much thought until I need to start thinking about it because I don't want to look ridiculous. I'm glad that they've given me plenty of opportunities to have some excitement in there. That's what I appreciate the most, is for the players, giving us an opportunity, and then the content team to continue to deliver really authentic content to our fans.
Q: Do you watch any other coaches and how they do it?
MV: No. I mean, I'm not taking my shirt off, I can promise you that.
Q: Do you practice in your office or anything like that?
MV: No, I have not practiced in the office.
Q: Some coaches might not care if the fans have access to that kind of stuff. Why is it important to you for the fans to have that connection?
MV: We're an entertainment business. It's a large part of what we do. I think that that's important that our fans have some connection to our team, to be able to come out here to training camp starting in July. I think that's important. I think it's important that our fans can come into the stadium and watch a scrimmage. I think it's important that they have things to cheer about on Sundays. And when we play, I think it's important that they see our players in the community, not only as players but men trying to make a difference, trying to make an impact and help. So, the more that we can do and the more that we can share with our fans, the better.
Q: You said once that the strength of the wide receiver unit is the unit. Why is it so important to spread the ball around the offense?
MV: I think just so that they can't sit there and key on one guy or say, "This is where it's going." I think that's kind of the way that the group is built. Some other years it may be different, but that's what it is this year, that's what I think is best for us, and that's kind of what it's proven to be.
Q: Just on those locker room moments, I've heard you differentiate between motivate and inspire, and your job is really the latter, not the former. Are those moments where you can inspire guys, or does that happen at a different time?
MV: I don't know if that's very inspiring. I'm sure they're looking to get a shower and get the hell out of there. I would imagine that they want that short and sweet – at least I would always want that. That game day is a long day. It starts early, especially the night games. There are some things I say to them before, leading up to the game, and if that plays out and it plays true, then I try to remind them and thank them for understanding what it is we're trying to get done.
