Patriots coach Mike Vrabel says his team should enjoy the challenge of playing the Bills in prime time.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel says his team should enjoy the challenge of playing the Bills in prime time.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Coming off an impressive blowout of the Panthers, Sunday night’s game against the Bills served as a litmus test for a New England team looking to take the next step.
If the Patriots want to be taken seriously as a football team, winning on the road in prime time is part of the maturation process.
“If you want to get to where you want to get to, I think you certainly better enjoy it,” coach Mike Vrabel said of the challenge of facing the Bills. “And that’s something that we’re trying to prepare for right now. And so, I think that certainly it will be a huge challenge.
“The last time they lost at home was 14 games ago. We’re well aware of that, and have to do a lot of really good things to give ourselves a chance.”
“There’s always a little extra juice playing prime time. Everybody’s watching, playing a division opponent,” said quarterback Drake Maye, who was making his first Sunday night start.
“What Coach Vrabel says is that’s where we want to go, where we want to be at is where the Bills have been the past couple years: contenders, winning the division and playing well at home,” he added. “So, we’ve got our hands full, but we’re excited. Anytime you’re on prime time, you’re kind of waiting the whole day for the game and under the lights. So, it’ll be pretty sweet.”
Coach Gibbens?
Could linebacker Jack Gibbens be the next Patriots’ player to ascend to a coaching role? Special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer thinks Gibbens is capable of making the move when his playing days are over.
“Extremely smart,” Springer said of the 6-foot-3-inch, 242-pound Gibbens. “I’m sure he could coach special teams and be a special teams coordinator right now. He sees everything very well. You can plug and play him in any kind of role. He’s got good speed and overall athletic ability. He’s long. He’s physical. And I think him just being that smart where you can plug and place him anywhere. That’s what makes him so versatile.
“I think that guy can coach right now,” Springer added. “He always tells me things that I didn’t see on film.”
In his first season with the Patriots, Gibbens, nicknamed “Doctor Gibby” by Vrabel because he seemingly always answers when the coach quizzes the team, has carved out a niche as a dependable special teamer. He came into Sunday night’s game tied with Brenden Schooler for the team lead in special teams snaps (85, or 83 percent of all special teams snaps through four games). In addition, he leads New England in special teams tackles with six.
“Yeah, I mean, that’s definitely something that I think about a lot,” Gibbens said when told of Springer’s statement. “Can’t play football forever. I definitely think about coaching as a possibility. I’m not sure at what level I’d want to try to do it, but yeah, it’s definitely something I’m interested in.”
Chaisson inactive for Patriots
Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson headlined New England’s inactives for Sunday’s contest. The edge defender, who appeared on the injury report with what the team called a knee issue last week, has done well when it comes to providing pass rush support (2.5 sacks through four games). The other four inactives were healthy scratches: offensive lineman Caedan Wallace, wide receiver Efton Chism, defensive tackle Eric Gregory, and quarterback Tommy DeVito. Chism, Wallace, and Gregory have taken multiple healthy scratches this season, while DeVito has been the emergency quarterback for the first five games of the year . . . As for the Bills, defensive tackle Ed Oliver was among those ruled out prior to kickoff. The 6-1, 287-pounder, who has been struggling with ankle issues, has six tackles and one sack on the season . . . Wide receiver Elijah Moore, cornerback Brandon Codrington, defensive back Jordan Hancock, linebacker Dorian Williams, offensive tackle Chase Lundt, and defensive tackle T.J. Sanders rounded out the Buffalo inactives.
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.