The New England Patriots are AFC East champions again, but Mike Vrabel still aims to accomplish more this winter.
New England handled business by throttling the New York Jets behind another Drake Maye clinic. Following the 42-10 road win, they watched the Buffalo Bills suffer a 13-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles after missing a two-point conversion in the closing seconds.
The Patriots shared footage of the moment players learned they captured the division crown. They celebrated after watching the Bills lose on the team bus.
They exited the vehicle to properly commemorate the moment by donning their AFC East-winning hats and shirts. Vrabel addressed his players after checking off his first mission as New England’s head coach.
“April 7th, we said three things,” Vrabel told his team. “Win the division, host home playoff games, compete for championships. OK? So, we got the first one taken care of.”
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Vrabel encouraged players to appreciate their feat before gearing up for a playoff run.
“This season is far from being over,” Vrabel said. “We can celebrate this and enjoy this. It’s far from being over. So congratulations. All the credit goes to you guys.”
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Vrabel will soon meet the goal of hosting a playoff game, as the Patriots will enter the postseason no lower than the No. 3 seed. They can secure the AFC’s first-round bye with a Week 18 win over the Miami Dolphins and a Denver Broncos loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Patriots will then compete for a championship behind the Coach of the Year candidate.
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Featured image via Oct 19, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel looks on before the game between the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.
