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The New England Patriots co-own the NFL’s best record through nine weeks, with a six-game winning streak that continued Sunday with a victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
However, despite the success of this young Patriots team, they have received criticism from a subset of NFL fans who say the schedule has been soft compared to other teams in the league.
During an appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” Mike Vrabel, who took over as head coach of the franchise with which he won Super Bowls during his playing days, was asked by host Chris Curtis what he thought about the national conversation about the Patriots having a “joke” schedule.
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches before an NFL preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Vrabel’s response was controversial.
“Do you want me to comment on the schedule or do you want me to comment on my message to the team? What are you trying to say? You’re working hard on that,” Vrabel said, spinning around in his chair. “Is that the national perspective, or is that the [yours]?”
Curtis had said the strength of the Patriots’ schedule had been a national conversation, and at the same time he wanted to know: “How do you balance keeping [the team] In check?”
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“I can only coach one team at a time. I don’t make the schedule,” Vrabel added. “Each team beats each [team]you know what I mean? It is amazing to me that in the National Football League there can be such a tight schedule. You have a salary cap. Everyone spends the same amount of money. “So, you guys know in this league that it doesn’t really mean anything.”
The Patriots started the season 1-2 after a home opener loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by a win over the Miami Dolphins and another loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But they’ve raced from a blowout win over the Carolina Panthers and followed that up with a crucial road win over the Buffalo Bills, 23-20, and wins over the New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and now the Falcons.
But, as the saying goes, “any given Sunday,” and it’s there for a reason in the NFL. Just look north to Green Bay, where the Packers were defeated at Lambeau Field as a heavy favorite against the Carolina Panthers. Those same Packers also lost to the Cleveland Browns earlier this year.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel directs his players during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 28, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
That’s just to say that any matchup in the NFL can result in a win or a loss no matter the odds.
Vrabel and the Patriots don’t care how they got wins this year, but you play the teams that are on the schedule and that’s the truth. And the Patriots might not have been in a good mood once again if not for a missed extra point by the Falcons late in New England’s 24-23 win.
Vrabel has also always been candid with members of the media through good times and bad while he was head coach of the Tennessee Titans, and that clearly hasn’t changed now that he’s back in New England.
“I love your little smile there,” Vrabel told Curtis. “You know, this question comes up and you want to ask me about the strength of the schedule and my message. My message has been the same every week: that we have to put everything we have into every week and that everyone has to prepare as a starter. I love our practices and the way we compete, and then you go and play.”
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel walks on the field before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The process has worked since Vrabel took over, and the Patriots are atop the AFC East with their 7-2 record, with the Buffalo Bills right behind them at 6-2.
The Patriots will have a tough opponent next week as they hit the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2), who are coming off their bye week.
