Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Postgame Transcript 9/20
PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
September 20, 2026
Q: Second game in a row, a very strong defensive effort. Today, the turnovers and constant harassment of [Aaron] Rodgers I’m guessing is what you were looking for.
MV: Well, that has to be the formula. You have to affect the quarterback each and every week, and we have to do a better job and continue to do a good job of helping our quarterback be efficient, and he has a large part in that. But we know that that’s the formula. I’m proud of our defense, proud of everybody. A lot of guys stepped up. We had a lot of injuries, and we played a lot of guys that — some of these guys haven’t been here for probably around two weeks or so, and they play for us, so that’s a great thing that they were ready to go. But we have to get healthy and figure out who’s available next week for a huge challenge.
Q: How big was the X play by [TreVeyon] Henderson in the first quarter to get you going?
MV: Well, I mean, again, that’s what you need. We talked about creating X plays offensively, you need great execution and extra effort. And I think we had good execution, and then Pop [DeMario Douglas] provided the extra effort to spring the block there that got TreVeyon into the end zone.
Q: For Drake’s [Maye] interception there, what were your thoughts on the decision to throw that?
MV: I mean, again, we’re going to look at the tape. I think we have to continue to be aggressive and figure out where the guy is, and maybe Hunter [Henry] can come back and help him;. Maybe we can throw it over the guy’s head give Hunter a chance. I don’t know. I mean, the guy made a good play. We didn’t make a very good one. Those things are gonna end up costing us. But I love the way that we responded defensively, and again, we see how critical the football is, who possesses it and how you finish drives.
Q: Hi, Coach. Walk me through sort of the defensive touchdown and the overall pressure that your defense put on Aaron Rodgers throughout the game.
MV: I mean, it’s a good mix. I think the defensive coaches, I think Zak [Kuhr] and everybody over there does a fantastic job. Well, I think all the credit goes to the players. But certainly, being able to see Christian Barmore affect the quarterback with the holding and a forced fumble and seeing everybody work, compete and work together to affect the quarterback. And the coverage has to be there long enough for the rush to get there. I think [Elijah] Ponder had a couple of those fumble recoveries last year, and he was able to score, and it was fun to see him be able to get into the end zone today.
Q: Hi, Mike. I’m curious, with the edge group, you talked about players stepping up due to injury. What did you see from them, specifically Gabe [Jacas] and Elijah today?
MV: Those are the guys we’ve been playing with. And I thought Quintayvious Hutchins had a good rush there later on in the game, and these guys have all been practicing and working really hard. I guess I’m just proud of them. You know what I mean? You look over there, and they’ve got T.J. Watt, [Alex] Highsmith and [Nick] Herbig, and we’ve got Ponder and Jacas and Quintayvious. So, I’m proud of our guys for going out there and being ready.
Q: Mike, what has allowed Gabe [Jacas] to be a quick study and make an impact here once the season started?
MV: Well, I mean, he cares an extreme amount. He comes in early, he stays late, he’s with Mike Smith, he works with me, he works with all the coaches, he cares about his teammates. He goes hard, makes mistakes. The thing about Gabe is that he can work through mistakes, and I think that’s really critical for any young player trying to improve is you have to be willing to make new mistakes, be okay with that and be able to be coached. I think he’s been able to do that.
Q: Mike, any updates on any of the injured guys? And then also, just what does it say about the team’s depth that you guys stay competitive through all those injuries?
MV: Well, I don’t have any updates. Again, that’s what we have to be able to do is create those opportunities for the next guy in and be able to coach everybody the same. We ask everybody to show up each week and prepare as a starter. I know that sometimes that’s hard, and sometimes guys prepare really hard to be a starter and they don’t end up playing or having a major role. And then sometimes like today, they have to be ready to go. So, I’m proud of everybody that helped contribute, especially the players themselves that were ready to go.
Q: Mike, 13 points by the offense a week after just scoring 10. Just what’s your concern level with Drake Maye and the offense right now, and are you worried he’s maybe pressing a little too much?
MV: No, just trying to win the game, Ben [Volin]. You’re not going to ruin my Sunday, but I’ll come back to you tomorrow. Thanks, bud.
Q: Mike, related to that, it looked like on a couple of the sacks that Drake took that he had some opportunities. How do you get him going?
MV: Well, the same way that we did. We’ve got to hit some plays, and again, you’ve just got to go out and play, have fun, compete, but make great decisions. I can only imagine what it’s like being a quarterback in the National Football League. Again, he’s the one that’s going to orchestrate and conduct everything that we do and make sure that everybody believes that the play that we’re running is going to be the one that’s successful. And not every time it is, but he has to be able to take that demeanor and spread it to the football team, throw it to the guy that’s open, and again, make great decisions. I’m always going to trust his decision. I’m going to trust every player’s decision that has the football. We’ll continue to keep working, and I thought there were some really great throws down the field and some opportunities. If he doesn’t feel it, then he doesn’t feel it.
Q: Mike, with [Michael] Pittman [Jr.] being a later scratch for them, at what point in the week was the decision made to have Christian [Gonzalez] shadow [DK] Metcalf as much as he did today?
MV: Well, I don’t recall. I mean, I recall, I’m just not going to tell you, I guess. I just saw somebody say, “I don’t recall” a bunch of times, so it’s just like a show or something — he was in court. I mean, there’s a fine balance. I think I talked about it; Zak talks about the impact that it makes on everybody else. Gonzo wants those challenges. You can see the competitive spirit. And again, when we talk about being the most physical unit that translates, you see the physical stab and being able to cover. I love the fact that sometimes they catch the football on you, and he comes right back and challenges. I know that they complete less than they complete.
Q: Hey, Mike. I want to ask you about Romeo Doubs. The first week, obviously he went through some difficulties, but today delivered two explosive plays for your team. Your thoughts on him?
MV: Romeo dropped one ball last week in the first game. You guys, I mean, I’ve seen that he dropped three passes. I don’t think he dropped three passes. He dropped one. We get back to work. People drop passes, people miss tackles. You guys just don’t see them all the time. You guys see the drops and the easy ones. Romeo got back to work and worked extremely hard. Todd [Downing] did a great job. We’ll get back, and we’ll coach him. Going up and trusting your hands and staying focused and all those things that are critical. Drake gave him some good opportunities, and hopefully we can continue to progress and continue to finish those drives that you guys were talking about here today. I thought we had a lot of positive plays; we just didn’t finish enough drives, and that limited our scoring.