FOXBOROUGH – Hanging inside Mike Vrabel’s team meeting room is a sign that’s titled, ‘Patriots’ Team Identity.’
The nautical blue sign has four core principles on it that Vrabel preaches and wants his players to live by:
No. 1: Effort and finish
No. 2: Ball Security & ball disruption
No. 3: Details, techniques and fundamentals
No. 4: Make great decisions
On Thursday night, in their win over the New York Jets, it took one play for the Patriots to exemplify Vrabel’s No. 1 key in his team identity.
At 14:16 of the second quarter, Drake Maye pitched the ball to TreVeyon Henderson. The rookie running back instantly made a defender miss and quickly got by another. That’s when Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood wrapped his arms around Henderson’s waist and attempted to drag him down around the 4-yard line.
That’s when his Patriots teammates had his back.
First, it was right guard Michael Onwenu to his right and left tackle Will Campbell on his left. Next to Onwenu came tight end Hunter Henry. Left guard Jared Wilson arrived on the right side of Onwenu. Then right tackle Morgan Moses and center Garrett Bradbury joined the party, pushing behind this pile.
Altogether, six players helped push Henderson the remaining 4 yards into the end zone. Just like that, players depicted Vrabel’s No. 1 principle in what he wants his team to be.
“That’s probably Vrabes’ favorite play of the year,” Bradbury said. “He’s been preaching it for months. That’s just the perfect opportunity to do it. There’s no better feeling as an o-lineman. Your running back is churning for some extra yards. Then the cavalry comes, and then the crowd goes crazy. That’s why you play.”
After a slow start, that touchdown tied the game, 7-7, and the Patriots didn’t look back in this 27-14 win. Vrabel’s team improved to 9-2 and has now won more games this season than the franchise did in the last two seasons combined. The Patriots have won eight straight games, which is the longest winning streak since Tom Brady was in New England in 2019.
The Patriots have a quality head coach, a budding MVP candidate for a quarterback, and a group of players who have completely bought into what Vrabel is selling them.
“Talent doesn’t win games,” Campbell said. “We’ve got guys that play together and are bought into what Vrabes is building, and this staff is asking of us.”
In his first season as Patriots head coach, Vrabel has changed the team’s culture. It’s one where players are truly rooting for each other and playing an unselfish brand of football.
That second-quarter pile push exemplified exactly what Vrabel has preached to his team this season.
“When it comes down to individual success, it breeds team success,” receiver Stefon Diggs said. “Out there, when you see piling pushing and stuff like that, it’s a team effort. Everyone scores a touchdown. (Henderson) might get the shine, but he’d be one of the first people to tell you he didn’t do it by himself.”
“Pile power. That’s going to make the Friday (highlight) tape. A pile push is what Vrabe’s lives for,” receiver Mack Hollins added. “We have fun with that. We love that. I was in the background, celebrating with my teammates. We love that. It’s a sign that everyone is around the ball, and once our guy scores, it doesn’t matter who it is.”
‘Effort and finish’ is an obvious thing to preach to professional athletes, but in Foxborough, players take it to heart. For Vrabel, it’s about his players never stopping when the play is ongoing. He wants maximum effort and uses different highlights to explain why it’s important.
On defense, effort and finish can lead to turnovers. On offense, the lack of it can cause them.
“It’s definitely preached each week – looking to finish plays, push the piles, be around the ball when the ball is downfield,” Onwenu said. “Defenders are coming, punching and poking for the ball, so the more guys we can have around the ball, the better… It was one of those moments that we work for.”
On Thursday, the Jets didn’t make things easy. Their offense scored a game-opening touchdown, which has become common for the Patriots defense. The offense responded with a touchdown that was truly a team effort.
Henderson scored three times in the team’s win. He said that the first score was special. It’s plays like that which build team camaraderie.
“It feels good. It lets you know that your teammates care, and they’re out there fighting,” Henderson said. “I really thank those guys for fighting and just for going the extra mile. It really does mean a lot.”
Over the last 11 weeks, the Patriots have compiled the best record in the NFL. They’re already surpassed expectations in Vrabel’s first season as head coach. With each win, this team shows it’s the real deal.
They’ve beaten good teams on the road like Buffalo and Tampa Bay. They’ve shown fight and on Thursday night, showed effort and finish – much to the delight of their head coach.
“That was so fun, especially when you get the opportunity to do it right there on the goal line,” Wilson said. “Trey had the momentum, and all he needed was a little bit of push and a little bit of movement.
“That’ll be Vrabel’s favorite play – that or victory formation.”
For the Patriots, when there’s effort and finish, one leads to another.
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