If the Patriots' Week 16 game had gone far differently than what it inevitably became, which was a win, the conversation on Monday would be all about a head-scratching decision that immediately doomed their chances of leaving Baltimore the victors.
Fortunately, that didn't come back to haunt them, and a fourth-quarter comeback led by Drake Maye allowed them to tie the Broncos for the best record in the league and maintain their one-game edge over the Bills for the AFC East.
But, at the same time, the decision to go for it on 4th-and-10 with a fake punt is not something that should just be glossed over because it didn't end up becoming the crutch on which they could blame their loss.
It's a move that was uncharacteristic of this coaching staff and cannot continue over the last two weeks, or into the playoffs, or we will be having a much different discussion about the 2025 Patriots than anyone wanted to have.
Mike Vrabel's risky decision could have been an absolute nightmare in Week 16
While breaking down the game in the immediate aftermath of the win, the Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan discussed the pattern of Vrabel and Co. choosing to go for it on fourth down throughout the season.
The decision to kick a field goal earlier in the game on 4th-and-2, but to fake punt on a 4th-and-10 play later, broke a longstanding pattern they had established this year, and it could have been a significant problem had the game gone differently.
Their success on fourth down has been a bright spot for this year's team, as they have done so about 70% of the time before Sunday's game, so it didn't make much sense to see that thrown aside for an even riskier move later on.
Mike Vrabel talks for the first time about the Patriots’ head-scratching fake punt attempt from Sunday:
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) December 23, 2025
“It’s something that we had practiced, something that I felt confident in it. I wouldn’t have called it if we didn’t feel confident in it. Unfortunately it didn’t work. It was… pic.twitter.com/IJGkBYVRat
Understanding the magnitude of the game, despite not needing the win to remain the No. 2 seed and favorite to win the division, could explain why they risked it all and attempted a trick play on 4th-and-long.
However, it's not wise to do that on a play like that, especially when the Ravens were already down their starting quarterback and the Patriots had plenty of time to catch up. It was a risk that would have been worth the reward had it been successful, but a play that could have been an absolute disaster had it failed and they lost.
That's the kind of move they cannot entertain over the final two weeks of the season, and not in the playoffs, either.