The New England Patriots are on to the AFC Championship Game after knocking off the Houston Texans in the divisional round on Sunday. This is a huge accomplishment for any team, but given the Patriots won just four games a season ago and are now in this spot, well, it's even more impressive.
Some might look at it that way and think, 'Oh well, just getting to this point is an accomplishment for the Patriots. That's not how the Patriots' players are looking at it, though, and head coach Mike Vrabel said as much following the game.
When asked how his guys felt about being in the AFC title game when no one expected them to be there, Vrabel's response will make Patriots fans want to run through a wall.
"They're not satisfied."
Mike Vrabel says Patriots players aren't content with simply making AFC title game
This is the perfect attitude for a coach and a team to have. Not many people expected the Patriots to be in this spot, given how bad this team was a season ago, and simply getting to the AFC Championship Game is not a moral victory. No, this team is still motivated and clearly has what it takes to get to the Super Bowl.
It's the Patriots' first AFC Championship Game appearance since the 2018 season, when they beat the Chiefs in their house in overtime to advance to yet another Super Bowl. That Super Bowl was also the last one they appeared in.
Patriots fans haven't had to wait as long for a conference championship appearance as many fanbases do and it's good to hear that the players recognize that the job isn't done yet. There's still another game to play and to win, and with Bo Nix missing the rest of the season with an ankle injury, the chances of New England getting to the Super Bowl are stronger than ever.
Now time to finish the job, which, according to Vrabel, is what this team is focused on.