The New England Patriots are sitting on top of the world, at least the AFC world right now. They are in control of their destiny. Win out, and they take the top seed in the AFC. Lose, and things get complicated.
They need to beat the Giants, who have a new coach, a wild playbook, and nothing to lose. Patriots' coach Mike Vrabel is expecting anything and everything, and it's a good thing he is.
Vrabel is an experienced NFL Head Coach. He knows his opposing coach, Mike Kafka, who replaced Brian Daboll, has little to lose by throwing the proverbial book of offensive plays at his Patriots defense. No NFL game is easy, but when the other team is ready to throw the book at you, you'd better be prepared for it.
Fortunately, Vrabel, a former and maybe soon-to-be NFL Coach of the Year again, has vast NFL experience upon which to draw. That expertise points the arrow in the Patriots' direction, especially since they have MVP-contender Drake Maye at the helm of their own offense (and another ace up their sleeve).
MIke Vrabel has to prepare the Patriots' defense for everything against the Giants
One thing is clear: on any given Sunday in the NFL, you could see any of multiple gadget plays thrown at you, and frankly, it's helpful if you do. Offenses that resort primarily to vanilla tactics (and the Patriots in 2025 have largely been one) give away an edge. Keeping the opposition guessing and off-balance is a necessity in the NFL every week, and Vrabel should expect a lot against the Giants.
Daniel Fisher of NESN cites Vrabel's awareness of what might be in store for his banged-up defense.
'One key factor in the Giants’ competitive edge is their creative playcalling, which means head coach Mike Vrabel will need to be well-prepared for their strategies on Sunday. 'I think we will have to be ready for anything they can possibly do, flea flicker, reverses and fake punts, Vrabel said on Saturday. 'We have to be sound in all areas, we have to be prepared, and try to handle everything they can do.'”
Against the Jets, the Patriots were gashed on RPO reverses that got the speedy Justin Fields in space. Fields stung the Patriots' defense for 67 yards on the ground, two of which were big gainers. Expect Kafka and his speedy quarterback, Jaxson Dart, to do the same and use RPOs to try to confuse Patriot defenders.
Mike Vrabel has a secret weapon to combat the Giants' offense
There's an old saying that the best defense is a good offense. It's as valid today as it was when it was uttered decades ago. If you keep the ball in your possession, one thing is perfectly clear: the opposing offense isn't going to do a thing. That's where Drake Maye and his offense enter the picture.
Unfortunately, the Patriots' running game has seldom gotten off the launching pad this season. Except in the Bucs' game, when TreVeyon Henderson single-handedly ran the Bucs out of the game, the running lanes have been few and far between. That's a detriment to ball control.
Regardless, Maye's offense will score, if the replacement left side of the offensive line does its job.
In addition, Vrabel has a secret weapon in his arsenal. It's former Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito, whom he signed earlier this season. He'll be able to provide Vrabel and his defensive coaches with copious information on what might signal a trick or other deceptive play. It's always helpful to have someone on hand who knows exactly what the other team's playbook has to unleash.
The other positive for the Patriots, if the Giants use trick plays (assuming the Patriots win), is that the Patriots' defense will be further exposed to the deception that most NFL teams employ. It's all about gaining an advantage, and deception is a distinct one. For the defense, it will provide some new looks, and when you're headed for the playoffs, you'll need all the experience you can get.