Expectations were certainly high for the Patriots going into their Week 1 showdown with the Raiders on Sunday, and much of it was the result of Mike Vrabel's presence and the work the team did to revamp the roster throughout the offseason.
The preseason added even more optimism, as the roster looked much improved and like one that could compete, only to fall flat in their season opener, with plenty of questions surrounding their future already piling up.
Most of the biggest questions surround a decision Vrabel made late in the game that might be coming back to haunt him already, as he's been peppered with questions in the hours since by reporters and fans alike.
Mike Vrabel's first questionable decision could carry on until the Patriots win a game
The Patriots entered halftime with momentum, and it was apparent they had finally found their groove as the second quarter continued. Much like they have over the last few years, they came out of halftime with the opposite energy, resulting in them falling behind late in the game and having to make a tough decision on a 4th and 10 play.
Because they were down a score at the time, there was reason to believe they would go for it instead of punting. However, Vrabel abruptly changed his mind on the play and opted to punt, much to the sound of boos from fans in the stadium.
To make the situation even worse, the surrender index proves the decision was more questionable than initially thought and awards Vrabel a harsh label for his decision to "cowardly punt."
NE decided to punt to LV from the 50 on 4th & 5 with 13:39 remaining in the 4th while losing 10 to 17.
— Surrender Index 90 (@surrender_idx90) September 7, 2025
With a Surrender Index of 12.1, this punt ranks at the 96th percentile of cowardly punts of the 2025 season, and the 94th percentile of all punts since 1999.
RELATED: Mike Vrabel says the quiet part out loud after Patriots first setback
That's a brutal way to remember a play that very easily could have gone either way and is always a tough choice for coaches to make, no matter how experienced they are.
However, this is probably something that will continue to be mentioned until the Patriots win a game, and that's not what Vrabel will want to deal with for much of the season. They have a solid opportunity to disprove any of the negative narratives that have emerged since Sunday by taking down the Dolphins in Week 2, especially since the Colts just demolished them with Daniel Jones of all people under center.
So if they can do that, perhaps this conversation about a punt won't be a topic anymore. But it seems guaranteed to be at the front of most analysts' and fans' brains until the Patriots make some better decisions in-game and, better yet, take home a win.