#mike-vrabel

#mike-vrabel

Top linebackers like tackling machine, Robert Spillane, who'd averaged more than 150 tackles the previous two seasons, and the emerging linebacker, Christian Elliss, missed tackles all over the yard in the first few games. They looked like they had goose grease on their hands as they missed tackle after tackle, helping to lose to the Raiders and Pittsburgh in two eminently winnable games.

Among the biggest problems with the Patriots' Week 15 loss to the Bills, a side from blowing a 21-point halftime lead, was the officiating. Although it's never ideal to discuss how referees may have impacted a game one way or the other, it's sometimes too big a story to ignore, and that is partly the case with this loss. Beyond the questionable pass interference calls, one of which took away an obvious interception by Marcus Jones, there was also a noticeable lack of penalties on the Bills.

After a much-needed bye week, the Patriots were immediately tested in Week 15, as they welcomed the Bills for their second matchup of the season, which could have sealed the division in their favor for the first time in six years. Based on how they played in the weeks leading up to the game, which included a 10-game win streak, it looked like the Bills should be the underdogs on the road.

Basically, Vrabel told us that his players understand they're going to get hit if they don't go out of bounds. And, for the most part, his words have been well-received. On the latest episode of The Pat McAfee Show, NFL legend JJ Watt chimed in on the conversation. "I think that the players love playing for a coach that says stuff like that and publicly goes out there and defends them. Phenomenal," Watt told McAfee.

"I loved my time there," DeVito told Guregian of facing the Giants. "When I was there, it was, 'Go Giants' but now it's 'Go Pats' all the way. I hope we blow them out."

"On these benchmarks alone, Johnson has been a smashing success," Solak wrote. "Chicago could be 2-8 right now, had all those winning drives not gone its way, and I'd still be saying it. Johnson's status as a top-five playcaller in the league has been clearly cemented in his first season outside Detroit. The Bears' offense works. And it is significantly ahead of schedule."