Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Postgame Transcript 10/22
PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
October 22, 2026
On what he ‘made of the tackling tonight’:
“The tackling wasn’t good enough, not against this team. We knew coming in, certainly against this team, whether it’s (Bears RB D’Andre) Swift, (Bears WR Luther) Burden (III), the quarterback. It just leads to extra yards and conversions. But, we fought. I would say that we need to turn the ball over and tackle better and those are fundamental skills. But I like the way they competed and we certainly gave ourselves a chance. It wasn’t a great one but it wasn’t enough.”
On how ‘fine of an edge that is’:
“It’s a thin margin when you play good teams. We did some good things. But again, didn’t do enough. We didn’t get enough stops in the red zone and we didn’t convert our red zone opportunity the one time, so. That’s probably the difference in the game.”
On if ’the injuries to the secondary caught up to the defense tonight’:
“I’m not going to say that. We knew who was going to play, we knew who we had coming in. Whenever the guys that are out are available, then we will see where they fit and see how they can help us.”
On QB Drake Maye’s performance:
“He gave us a chance. He competed and I know he’d like to have that throw back to (WR) Eli (Raridon) but, I thought he really competed. Whether that was running around and scrambling or finding good places to go with the football. He gave us a chance. I know he’d like to have that one back and he’ll learn from it like he always does. I’m glad he’s ours.”
On adjustments offensively:
“I think we just started playing a little bit better connected. We protected when they pressured. I thought that was a huge key for us as they continued to pressure and put a lot of guys on the line of scrimmage. Our ability to pick it up and hit some chunk plays was really the reason we were in it in the second half.”
On if Burden III’s performance ‘was play design or poor execution by the defense’:
“Both. That’s not fair for me to answer that question. That’s usually good scheme and a guy making a play, or certainly we didn’t do a good enough job. So I would say it was a combination of those. What percentage of that, I couldn’t tell you. We are going to have to tackle those guys better.”
On the challenge flag for Maye’s touchdown:
“We just thought we had a good view and said throw it, so we threw it. For the record, we told (DT) Cory (Durden) to jump offsides on third and six inches or whatever it was. So, we felt like that was going to be the best way to get a stop. So, that’s on me. Our guys executed and then (Bears K) Cairo (Santos) made a huge kick.”
On if the Bears ‘out-executed them on those plays’:
“Yeah. Make a 58-yard field goal. I think the last field goal Cairo missed was when he kicked for the Titans, so I don’t think he has missed one since then. He missed one earlier in the game, but we always joke about it. I’m really proud of what he’s done. I didn’t want him to make it tonight, but a former guy that we coached and (Bears QB) Caleb (Williams) is going to make some plays. I don’t know how you get out-executed when a guy makes a 58-yard field goal, but we executed well at times and didn’t get the drive stopped enough.”
On ’the offensive productivity and establishing the run’:
“The offensively productivity is we didn’t run the ball well enough. But, we moved it however we needed to move it and sometimes you are going to have days like that. I thought we’d be able to run it a little better. We didn’t, but then our best players were putting the ball in good spots most of the time and making good decisions. That’s how it goes, we’d have liked to run the ball a little bit better. But, it didn’t happen tonight.”
On RB TreVeyon Henderson:
“We had some things for him, packages or personnel groupings. TreVeyon will help us, but I wanted to see where we were with (RB) Corey (Kiner) getting a couple carries too. But TreVeyon will help us plenty here down the stretch and helped us a little bit tonight.”
On OL Walter Rouse and OL Matt Pryor:
“I think the protection I’m sure could’ve been better. We just had some critical penalties. Being able to handle the environment, third-and-short or whatever it is. Those are certainly unfortunate. That’s just beating ourselves. But, I’m sure they played OK. I’m sure they played hard. Without seeing it though, it’s hard to say, but I know they competed.”
On if ‘you got a look at’ the penalty called on Pryor:
“No, what’d you think? I don’t know. I’m not in good favor with the officiating department so I probably shouldn’t say anything.”