FOXBOROUGH – Sunday’s Week 7 matchup between the Patriots and the Tennessee Titans features a ripe storyline ripe: Revenge! Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel returns to Tennessee for the first time since his unceremonious dismissal from the Titans organization two years ago.
However, if Vrabel and players are feeling the pull of a “revenge game” narrative, they are doing an effective job of ignoring it. Both the coach and his team have consistently downplayed any emotional stakes beyond the simple goal of securing a victory.
Vrabel, who served as the Titans head coach from 2018-2023, was asked repeatedly this week about the personal meaning of facing his former team. In typical fashion, the coach deflected the emotional angle, categorizing the circumstances with a now-familiar refrain.
“There is going to be, probably, a lot to be said about this,” Vrabel told reporters. “I think it would file under the category of, ‘is it interesting or important?’ I would probably say this would be very interesting. But in the end, not very important to our preparation or what we need to continue to try to do to improve as a team.”
Vrabel acknowledged the human element of the return, stating it will be “nice to see some people that I haven’t seen in a few years that helped us win, players and staff.” Yet, the underlying message to his 4-2 Patriots team is clear: this is a business trip, not a personal quest for vengeance.
When pressed on whether the team might be motivated to “win one for the Gipper,” Vrabel quickly shut down the notion. “We’re not trying to win one for the Gipper here,” he affirmed, keeping the focus strictly on execution.
The head coach’s message appears to be resonating with his locker room. Quarterback Drake Maye highlighted his coach’s emphasis on ignoring distractions.
“The way Coach Vrabel handles it is what leads into how we’ll handle it. He’s focused on this team and not worried about going back to a place he coached for a long time and had some great success. So, he’s not treating it like a big deal, so it’s kind of bleeding into us. We’re treating it like another week, another opponent, and treating it the same. The way he’s handling it is the right way.”
The Patriots are concluding a challenging three-game road swing. They will be looking to win three straight road games for the first since 1985. The primary importance of Sunday’s game lies in maintaining their momentum and avoiding a slip-up against a struggling 1-5 Titans squad that recently fired head coach Brian Callahan.
In the end, while the media and fans may circle Sunday’s game as a revenge game for Vrabel, the only thing that matters is getting a win. Not avenging his former employer.