New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots showcased immense amounts of grit in their victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Mike Vrabel was particularly ballsy, making the incredibly aggressive decision to purposely not score on first down from the one-yard line, which allowed his offense to burn clock and avoid giving the football back to its opponent before halftime.
No, seriously.
Drake Maye essentially kneeled on the football on first down, before TreVeyon Henderson was stuffed on back-to-back tries to set up 4th-and-goal from the one-yard line with 0:01 remaining in the first half — before the entire unit was bailed out by a spectacular touchdown catch from Stefon Diggs.
Vrabel was asked about that decision following the game, directing his attention toward the outcome and not necessarily the process.
“We have confidence in our guys,” Vrabel said, per team-provided video. “To be able to have confidence in them at that moment, and for them to come through, that’s about players and not necessarily plays. I was really excited and proud of Stef and Drake for scoring and ending the half with the football in our hands.”
“Like I said, we were really excited to end with the ball in our hands in the first half. And then to be able to come out in the second half.”
Vrabel did come back later and seemingly respond to the idea that his decision had a positive result despite coming from a flawed process.
“I trusted our players,” Vrabel said. “They made me look good.”
