Mike Vrabel isn’t one to kick back and relax - even when the schedule says it’s time for a break. The Patriots may be riding high after their 10th straight win, a commanding 33-15 performance over the Giants on Monday night, but Vrabel made it clear: this team isn’t anywhere near satisfied.
“We’re not done. We’re not satisfied.
Champions are never satisfied,” Vrabel said Tuesday at Gillette Stadium. That mindset has defined his approach all season - and it’s part of why New England finds itself sitting atop the AFC after 13 games.
Yes, they’ve earned the No. 1 seed for now. Yes, they’ve rattled off 10 consecutive wins.
But Vrabel isn’t letting anyone in the building get comfortable. “I think you can appreciate where you are,” he said, “but at the same time never be satisfied or complacent.”
That’s the tightrope walk for any team with championship aspirations - enjoying the view from the top without losing the edge that got you there. Vrabel knows as well as anyone that a bye week doesn’t come with guarantees, especially in a league where momentum can vanish in a heartbeat.
“Just because you have a bye, that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed some victory the next week in this league,” Vrabel said. And the numbers back him up. Teams coming off a bye this season are just 16-12 - hardly a lock.
Still, the week off does bring some upside. Vrabel noted the team is hopeful to get back some key players who weren’t available against the Giants. That could be a difference-maker as the Patriots gear up for the final stretch of the regular season and a potential playoff run.
As things stand, New England holds the shortest odds to win the AFC, listed at +420 on FanDuel. According to NFL.com, they’ve got a 36% chance of locking up the conference’s top seed and the all-important first-round playoff bye. The Broncos, however, currently lead that race with a 48% chance.
So while the standings may look favorable and the odds are trending in their favor, the message from Vrabel is crystal clear: this team isn’t counting anything yet. There’s still work to be done - and the Patriots are treating this bye week not as a reward, but as a reset.