Mike Vrabel fires back at Patriots schedule critics amid win streak

The New England Patriots have shared the best record in the NFL through nine weeks and continued their six-game winning streak with a win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

But despite the success of the young Patriots team, it has faced criticism from a subgroup of NFL fans who say the program is soft compared to other teams in the league.

On WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” Mike Vrabel, who was the head coach of the team with which he won Super Bowls during his playing days, was asked by host Chris Curtis what he thought of the national conversation that the Patriots were a “joke” show.

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Vrabel’s response was controversial.

“You want me to comment on the program, or do you want me to comment on my message to the team? What are you trying to say? You’re working hard out there,” Vrabel said as he swiveled in his chair. “For example, is this the national perspective or [yours]?”

While Curtis said the Patriots’ strong schedule was a national debate, he also wanted to know: “How do you maintain balance?” [the team] Is he in control?”

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“I can only coach one team at a time. I don’t make the program,” Vrabel added. “Every team beats everyone” [team]You know what I mean? It’s confusing to me that the schedule can be strong in the National Football League. You have a salary cap. Everyone spends the same amount of money. So you know that doesn’t mean anything in this league.”

The Patriots started the season 1-2 with a home opener loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, a win over the Miami Dolphins and another loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But they’ve been on a roll since their blowout victory over the Carolina Panthers and followed that up with a crucial road win over the Buffalo Bills, 23-20, and have beaten the New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and now the Falcons.

But, as the saying goes, “It’s any given Sunday” and in the NFL there’s a reason for that. Look north of Green Bay, where the Packers were beaten as heavy favorites against the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field. The same Packers lost to the Cleveland Browns earlier this year.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel leads his players during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 28, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

This is just saying that any matchup in the NFL can lead to a win or a loss, regardless of the odds.

They don’t care how Vrabel and the Patriots get wins this year, but you’re playing teams that are on schedule and that’s the reality of it. And if it weren’t for the Falcons’ missed extra point in New England’s 24-23 victory, the Patriots’ morale might not have been this high again.

Vrabel was also always cordial with members of the media, in good times and bad, while he was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, and that clearly hasn’t changed now that he’s back in New England.

“I love your little grin over there,” Vrabel told Curtis. “You know, you get that question and you want to ask me about the strength of the program and my message. My message has been the same every week; we have to give everything we’ve got every week and everyone has to be prepared as a starter. I love our practices and the way we compete and then you go play the game.”

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel walks on the field before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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The process has worked since Vrabel took over, and the Patriots sit atop the AFC East with a 7-2 record, with the Buffalo Bills right behind them at 6-2.

The Patriots will face a tough opponent next week as they travel to face the 6-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming off their bye week.

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