New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel seemingly wanted to send a message to the New York Jets at the end of the first half of Sunday’s game.
Vrabel was unhappy after Patriots quarterback Drake Maye took a big hit late in the first half of Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson was called for roughing the passer, and Vrabel was worried enough that he went out on the field to check on his quarterback.
#Patriots QB Drake Maye took a big hit on this play, causing him to stay down for a little extra time. HC Mike Vrabel came onto the field to check on him. pic.twitter.com/x39Jqr0UHF
— New England Sports Fellow (@_JosephManning) December 28, 2025
Vrabel seemingly decided to send a message after the play. The Patriots were already up 28-3 at this point, and the New England offense promptly went into two-minute drill mode and marched down the field to make it 35-3.
The Patriots coach was not finished there. He used his final timeout with the Jets facing a 3rd and 13 from their own 32, forcing the Jets to run one final play instead of heading to the locker room.
Vrabel seemed to say “f— ’em” after using the timeout.
Mike Vrabel clearly says “F*ck em” after calling a timeout up 35-3.
— Kevin Moore (@KMooreTV) December 28, 2025
Drake Maye and Brenden Schooler’s faces are hilarious. Patriots and Jets rivalry is very much alive. pic.twitter.com/NYWpQ5Rjhj
Vrabel is well-versed in how the Patriots operate. He most certainly remembers the lengths Bill Belichick went to just to toy with the organization. This might not be at that level, but it certainly represents the Patriots rubbing the Jets’ noses in it a bit.
The Patriots went to the locker room with a 35-3 lead. That may be all the statement that the Patriots needed to make.
