Patriots Praise ‘Amazing’ Playoff Atmosphere At Gillette Stadium

The New England Patriots allowed six years to pass between playoff victories at Gillette Stadium.

83 months. 365 weeks. 2,555 days.

It’s safe to say that the layoff between their divisional round victory over the San Diego Chargers on Jan. 13, 2019 and their wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 11, 2026 was long enough to provide some extra juice to the home crowd — which was appreciated by those taking part in the contest.

“I thought it was amazing,” New England head coach Mike Vrabel said on Monday. “I think it starts with our willingness to play to a style that our fans appreciate… what we do here from a stadium perspective, the introductions and the fireworks, that’s all part of it. We’re in the entertainment business, so we have to provide things for people to be excited about.

“I appreciate the way that our fans have been here. I appreciate the way that they’ve traveled. I just can’t say enough about them.”

Vrabel knows all about playoff football around these parts, but his players got their first taste and happened to love it.

“It’s fun to get one at home, and looking forward to being back here next week,” Drake Maye said following his first playoff start.

“It was the best I’ve seen it. The place was rocking… the fans were in it, the stands were full,” Garrett Bradbury said on Monday, as transcribed by SI’s Mike Kadlick. “This is football. This is why you play.”