The New England Patriots have generated palpable buzz for their surprisingly fast start to the 2025 NFL campaign. They're firing on all cylinders entering a clash with the Tennessee Titans, who are trending in the polar opposite direction.
But this isn't just a matchup with the down-bad Titans, as much as Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wants it to be. He's trying to minimize the underlying storyline of his highly anticipated return to Tennessee for the first time since they fired him in January 2024.
However, it’s a massive elephant in the room that’s too big to ignore – one that could galvanize New England’s locker room.
When addressing the media earlier in the week, Vrabel described his not-so-welcome homecoming as “interesting” but “not very important” in the grand scheme of things. A reporter asked him about the “revenge game” narrative again during a press conference on Wednesday, but this time, the focus was on the players’ feelings.
The 2021 Coach of the Year de-emphasized the topic, yet the question and response indicate that the Patriots are motivated on behalf of their leader.
Mike Vrabel continues taking high road, but Patriots players eyeing revenge vs. Titans
"Yeah, we're not trying to win one for the Gipper here," Vrabel stated regarding the Pats’ motivation against the Titans. "We're just trying to make sure that these guys are focused on improving, and I think that they are."
Moreover, Vrabel noted that New England is "locked in" at the moment with sights on winning its fourth straight contest. While that's true and fair, his showdown with the club that dismissed him is at the front of everyone's minds. He can sense it, and so can Patriots beat writers, which is why they keep bringing up the saga.
If people on the outside looking in are thinking this much about Vrabel facing his former employer, just imagine how members of the Pats feel. He can run from the subject, but the 53-man group behind won’t hide as they look to avenge their sideline general.
Expect the Patriots to rally around Vrabel against a hapless Titans squad that notably relieved head coach Brian Callahan of his duties recently. Regardless of what the former says, he was once between the lines and knows his squad will be running high with emotions.
As a competitor who won at the highest level during his 14-year linebacker career, Vrabel knows the players want to destroy the Titans for him. Heck, not so deep down, he probably realizes how badly he wants to pulverize Tennessee.