News Patriots Team Notes

[New England Patriots]

Mike Vrabel relying on ultra-experienced assistant in Super Bowl prep

Including head coaches, coordinators and assistants of all kind, there are around 800 coaches in the NFL right now. Not one of them has more Super Bowl experience than Josh McDaniels: next Sunday, the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator will coach in his 10th NFL title game.

Considering his history, it is no surprise that head coach Mike Vrabel is using him as a resource. McDaniels has been through the ordeal several times, and knows the potential challenges of the two-week preparation as well as anybody.

“There’s a lot of preparation,” Vrabel said earlier this week. “I think you want to try to avoid doing too much too early. And then also, how do you keep their attention next week, and focused and locked in? So, I think we have a good balance.

“Coaches have been a good resource. Josh has been a good resource. Obviously, he’s coached in these with the extended break. So, there’s just trying to find that sweet spot of doing enough here, but then also still having stuff out there that will keep them engaged.”

McDaniels was part of all nine of the Patriots’ Super Bowl appearances during the Brady-Belichick dynasty, earning six rings along the way. Next week, he will coach in his first big game under Vrabel after both returned to Foxborough during the offseason.

But while Vrabel himself has been part of four Super Bowls during his time as a player, his coaching career so far has never brought him past the championship round. With that hurdle cleared last Sunday in a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos, he is now only 10 days away from following the footsteps of his former head coach, Bill Belichick.

How Vrabel will conduct preparation remains to be seen, but the Patriots are planning to stick to their regular routine as well as possible. The only difference is that the first two practices this week will be followed by a send-off rally at Gillette Stadium and subsequent flight to Santa Clara for a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks

“We’ll practice Thursday and Friday,” Vrabel said about his team’s schedule. “Give them an opportunity to take a day off on Saturday, and then travel Sunday. Get some movement in, probably light movement back in the weight room before we travel. And then Monday will be like a bonus day, which we’ve used for coming off of a bye week to kind of do some drills and just some movement. And then Tuesday off. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, just try to keep it like a normal week.”

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...s-mike-vrabel-super-bowl-preparation-seahawks

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots vs. Seahawks Thursday injury report: Three sidelined, Drake Maye limited

As the New England Patriots returned to practice inside the WIN Waste Innovations Field House, three stayed sidelined.

Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr, outside linebacker Harold Landry III and inside linebacker Robert Spillane all sat out Thursday’s Super Bowl LX work on the Seattle Seahawks. But quarterback Drake Maye was officially on hand as a limited participant after being projected to that degree the afternoon prior.

“Feel good. Got out there, moving around a good bit today,” Maye told reporters of his right shoulder injury. “This is the game you dream of playing. So, looking forward to getting out there. Can’t wait to play in the Super Bowl.”

Here’s the second injury report heading into the Feb. 8 meeting at Levi’s Stadium.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE​

Patriots​

• OT Thayer Munford Jr. (knee, illness)
• LB Harold Landry III (knee)
• LB Robert Spillane (ankle)

Seahawks​

• TE Eric Saubert (hamstring)
• OT Charles Cross (foot)
• OT Amari Kight (knee)

An extension of the offensive line, Munford remained an eligible reporter in the AFC Championship Game. But lingering injuries on the defensive side of the ball remain at the forefront for the Patriots. After finishing the regular season atop the Patriots with 8.5 sacks, 19 quarterback hits and tied for the lead with 10 tackles for loss, Landry did not practice leading up to the Mile High matchup. The edge starter was ruled out on the final injury report of last week due to a knee injury that’s lingered. And Spillane, a fellow March arrival who missed four games with an ankle injury before returning for the postseason, saw 13 defensive snaps against the Denver Broncos. An ankle injury left him questionable to return. But the off-the-ball linebacker did not take back the green dot.

LIMITED PARTICIPATION​

Patriots​

• QB Drake Maye (right shoulder)
• RB Terrell Jennings (concussion protocol, hamstring — IR return)
• WR Mack Hollins (abdomen)
• TE Hunter Henry (not injury related — rest)
• OT Morgan Moses (not injury related — rest)

Seahawks​

• QB Sam Darnold (oblique)
• FB Brady Russell (hand)
• FB Robbie Ouzts (neck)
• WR Jake Bobo (hand)
• OT Josh Jones (ankle, knee)
• LB Ernest Jones IV (chest)
• LB Drake Thomas (shoulder)
• S Julian Love (shoulder)

New England’s quarterbacks did not throw during the portion of Thursday’s practice open to the media. But Maye shared afterward that the ball did indeed see the air, and head coach Mike Vrabel said that there was “not much” concern over the 23-year-old’s availability. Maye has been sacked 15 times in the playoffs. His most recent start spanned 86 passing yards, 65 rushing yards and one touchdown on a QB draw.

FULL PARTICIPATION​

Patriots​

• DT Joshua Farmer (hamstring — IR return)

Seahawks​

• LB Chazz Surratt (ankle — IR return)

The 21-day practice window remains open for the aforementioned Jennings, who was limited with a hamstring on Thursday, as well as a member of New England’s 2025 draft class. Farmer had gone on injured reserve in December due to a hamstring injury of his own. The rookie defensive tackle also remains eligible for activation back to the 53-man roster and continued as a full participant.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...wks-thursday-injury-report-drake-maye-limited

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots cornerback duo has opposing QBs in hell this postseason

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 25: Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots lines up during the AFC Championship Playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Passer rating is not the be-all and end-all of quarterback evaluation, but it does give some insight into how effective teams are at moving the ball through the air. Against the New England Patriots so far in this year’s playoffs, not that much.

In three postseason games so far, opposing passers have achieved a rating of 56.1 while tossing only two touchdowns versus five interceptions. The roots of that number, however, are not evenly distributed across New England’s pass defenders. Two players in particular have helped lay the foundation for the unit’s success: Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III.

The Patriots’ starting cornerbacks, who rarely leave the field, are ranked first and second in pass rating given up in this year’s playoffs so far. Neither has allowed a touchdown, while Davis caught two interceptions to Gonzalez’s one.

Lowest passer rating allowed in coverage this postseason, per @NextGenStats (minimum 10 targets):

Carlton Davis III – 21.4
Christian Gonzalez – 39.0

A QB would have a 39.6 passer rating if he threw every pass into the stands.@Patriots | #NEPats | #SuperBowlLX pic.twitter.com/skZjjb2281

— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) January 26, 2026

In addition to those rankings, Gonzalez and Davis also are currently first (5.2) and fifth (5.7), respectively, in yards allowed per target among all qualifying defensive backs in the NFL this year. Needless to say, they have been standout performers even on a defensive unit full of them this postseason.

For Gonzalez, Davis has a big role in that. While he himself went 4-13 in each of his first two seasons in the NFL and came nowhere close to competing in the playoffs, the veteran offseason signing has been down that road before: next Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks will be the 13th playoff game of Davis’ career.

“CD’s done a great job coming in the room,” Gonzalez said. “He’s that veteran that we needed in the room. Besides him, we have a real young room. So, just him coming in, him having experience, him playing, winning the Super Bowl, being in the league, I’ve been able to lean on him, talk to him, ask him about how these playoff games feel, how the Super Bowl feels.

“He’s done a great job. He’s a voice in this locker room and a lot of guys lean towards him. It’s been a lot of fun going out there with him and the guys.”

Davis joined the Patriots on a three-year, $54 million contract this year and immediately took over the starting outside cornerback job opposite Gonzalez. And while his young teammate has gotten the headlines as one of the best defenders in the game, Davis himself has been a critical part of the operation as well.

The playoffs made this clear. In the divisional round against Houston, Davis caught two interceptions. Gonzalez followed suit with a pivotal pick in the AFC Championship against Denver.

As a result, the two are now headed to the Super Bowl alongside the rest of their team. While the biggest game of the season, however, the preparation — with Davis providing “been there, done that” experience — will remain the same.

“Preparing the same way. It’s football at the end of the day,” said Gonzalez. “It’s the same game I played my whole life. It’s just the Super Bowl. Of course, there are going to be a little nerves the closer you get to it, but it’s football. The field is same length, the same thing, just a couple more people there. The stage isn’t really going to change your preparation or anything. You still prepare the same way and go. You have a job to execute.”

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...3/christian-gonzalez-carlton-davis-super-bowl