New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots picked up a 27-14 victory over the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football, pushing their record on the season to 9-2. In the process, the team got its first taste of the cold winter weather that is rolling on into the New England region.
After taking down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road in Week 10, the Pats had to shift gears quickly. In Florida, the conditions were hot and humid, but in Foxboro, MA, on Thursday night, temperatures dipped into the high 30s.
While the team is going to have to get used to playing in the cold as winter approaches, head coach Mike Vrabel knew that establishing this goal on a short week may not be the best idea. As a result, he offered to allow the team to practice indoors in preparation for their clash with the Jets. His players, though, quickly turned down that offer.
“As the temperature starts to drop, and postseason football potentially returns to Gillette Stadium, the Patriots are hoping to harden themselves to the chilly conditions and precipitation,” Nicole Yang wrote for the Boston Globe.
“Headed into their game against the Jets, players declined Vrabel’s offer to go inside the fieldhouse and instead opted to practice outdoors.”
This goes to show just how important the culture Vrabel has built at 1 Patriot Place is to the team’s success. It’s a two-way street; Vrabel coaches this team tough, but he knows when to take his foot off the gas in an effort to help his guys out. The players know what Vrabel expects from them, though, and that leads to eye-opening developments like this.
The decision served New England well, as it cruised to a fairly effortless win over New York in some fairly chilly conditions. The Patriots will look to earn their ninth-straight victory in Week 12 when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals.
