In the days leading up to the New England Patriots' Week 12 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, most analysts believed it would be an absolute domination by the away team, stealing a win against the frequent AFC North winners. A lot of that was due to their eight-game win streak, which only looked more possible with QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase sidelined for the matchup.
But the game was far from a blowout, and actually came down to a fourth-down pass breakup that gave the Patriots the chance to kneel it out for the win. Although it extends their win streak and gives them 10 wins for the first time since 2021, Mike Vrabel isn't satisfied with how the day went.
And to be fair, fans shouldn't be either. That was a messy game that very easily could have gone the other way, and we'd be having a much different conversation about this team than we are now.
That's the kind of attitude Vrabel continues to bring, and the way he summed up their Week 12 efforts and the season overall is the mentality the team has adopted.
The Patriots are not satisfied with just another win, which Mike Vrabel has made clear
While discussing the win with reporters immediately after the game, Vrabel made sure their record and stats wouldn't be highlighted more than they should be.
That goes for not just their Week 12 win, but the season overall, and that's the old-school style that Patriots fans have craved since Bill Belichick was fired nearly two years ago.
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel:
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) November 23, 2025
“It was [a battle]. That’s what happens in this league. You need everybody, and you go through the season, and you go on the road. It’s tough. Nobody wants to talk about numbers and records — that doesn’t mean s**t.”
(🎥 @Patriots) pic.twitter.com/ZcxXZP6GEw
Over the past 12 weeks, the players and coaching staff have emphasized this mentality, and it was once again exemplified by them after their latest win.
Christian Gonzalez echoed much of what his head coach meant in his statement, noting how difficult it is to win games in the NFL. They're all aware of how close this game was and how quickly it could have become an absolute disaster, so clearly what Vrabel is saying is resonating.
Christian Gonzalez: "This is the NFL. Teams are good. Games are going to come down to the wire. .. It's hard to get wins in this league so this was a good win."
— Alexandra Francisco (@ByAlFrancisco) November 23, 2025
They're not satisfied with just a win. Although a win is a win, much of what led to it matters more, and the Patriots have a lot to clean up.