Mike Vrabel Admits ‘Bad Call By Me’ During Patriots Win Vs. Ravens

Before the New England Patriots completed a playoff-clinching comeback win on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 16 vs. the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Mike Vrabel made a bold call late in the third quarter that backfired.

With just over two minutes left in the penultimate frame, Vrabel called for a fake punt on fourth-and-10.

Patriots linebacker Marte Mapu received the direct snap and, while looking for someone to throw to, fumbled. New England linebacker Jack Gibbens recovered the loose ball, but the team committed a turnover on downs.

Vrabel discussed the miscue on Tuesday.

“It’s something that we had practiced, something that I felt confident in. I wouldn’t have called it if we didn’t feel confident in it,” the Patriots first-year coach said, per MassLive’s Karen Guregian. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work. So, it was a bad call by me.”

Vrabel detailed the play call further.

“It certainly wasn’t designed to run, (Mapu) just felt like it wasn’t there and he made a decision,” the 50-year-old said. “So, I made a decision to try the play. I’ll make other calls. There’ll be good ones and there’ll be bad ones as well.”

The Ravens capitalized, scoring on a Derrick Henry two-yard touchdown run seven plays later to go up 23-13. A successful extra point attempt increased Baltimore’s advantage to 24-13, but the Patriots outscored their opponents 15-0 the rest of the way to take a 28-24 decision.