By Tiffany Williams –
FOXBOROUGH, MA — The New England Patriots are headed back to the Super Bowl after grinding out a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, a victory that capped one of the biggest turnarounds in NFL history and sent the franchise to its 12th Super Bowl appearance.
The Patriots advanced to their 12th Super Bowl overall and their 11th since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, both the most in league history. New England finished the regular season 14-3, tied with Denver and Seattle for the best record in the NFL, and earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs.
The 14-3 finish marked a 10-game improvement from a 4-13 record in 2024, tying the 1999 Indianapolis Colts and the 2008 Miami Dolphins for the largest single-season turnaround in league history. New England will face the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl for the second time, a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, which the Patriots won 28-24 on Feb. 1, 2015. The Patriots have a chance to break a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers and win a record seventh Super Bowl title.
On Tuesday, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel spoke publicly for the first time since the win, reflecting on the moment and the road ahead. “I just want to thank a lot of people here for helping us get here,” Vrabel said, citing ownership, staff, first responders and players. “But obviously the players, I thank them, and I know that they’re excited to get us this next game and just the work that they’re going to put in here this week. I think we have a good plan for them. We’re excited about it, and it’ll be a huge challenge and it’ll be a huge test.”
Vrabel addressed speculation surrounding quarterback Drake Maye’s shoulder, pushing back on concerns while acknowledging the physical toll of the season. “I think that everybody, including Drake, is not 100% at this part of the year,” Vrabel said. When asked directly if Maye was injured during Sunday’s game, Vrabel responded, “No, I wouldn’t say that anybody hurt anything.” He added that the Patriots were able to function offensively and would address player status when required by league rules.
The coach outlined a deliberate Super Bowl preparation plan designed to balance rest and focus over the extended break. “We have to get healthy,” Vrabel said, describing light workouts early in the week, practices on Thursday and Friday, and a structured schedule meant to mirror a normal game week. Vrabel emphasized avoiding overload while keeping players engaged, noting the value of staff experience with long playoff layoffs.
Vrabel also praised defensive lineman Milton Williams for his consistency and impact. “There’s a consistency there. He’s a tireless worker,” Vrabel said, pointing to disruption beyond sack totals and improvements in the run game. On the decision to invest in Williams long-term, Vrabel credited the player’s background. “When you have good bones, you can survive a lot,” he said.
Looking ahead to Seattle, Vrabel made clear the challenge facing New England. “We’ll have to play one of our best games, if not our best game, against Seattle,” he said, citing the Seahawks’ ability to generate pressure, create turnovers and control games in all three phases. Vrabel called Seattle “an excellent football team” and stressed the need for the Patriots to be strong in all phases to win.
Despite the magnitude of the moment, Vrabel said he has not allowed himself to think beyond the task ahead. Asked if he has envisioned what a Super Bowl win might feel like, he replied simply, “Nah, I haven’t thought about that one time.”