{'byline': 'by Tom Carroll, The Greg Hill Show', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': '', 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': 'weei', 'path': 'weei/sports/patriots/mike-vrabel-were-playing-for-a-championship-this-week'}], 'syndicated_items': [{'station': 'waaf', 'path': '/waaf/sports/mike-vrabel-were-playing-for-a-championship-this-week'}, {'station': 'mix1041', 'path': '/mix1041/sports/mike-vrabel-were-playing-for-a-championship-this-week'}, {'station': 'magic1067', 'path': '/magic1067/sports/mike-vrabel-were-playing-for-a-championship-this-week'}, {'station': 'big103boston', 'path': '/big103boston/sports/mike-vrabel-were-playing-for-a-championship-this-week'}, {'station': 'wtic', 'path': '/wtic/sports/new-england-patriots/mike-vrabel-were-playing-for-a-championship-this-week'}], 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v44', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2025-12-08T13:59:21.282Z', 'lead': [{'data': {'title': 'Patriots HC Mike Vrabel joins live at Gillette Stadium!', 'thumbnail_url': 'https://s1.dmcdn.net/v/ZaBIg1fDk_1hANFux', 'id': 'x9v91uy', 'created_time': 1765202222, 'mode': 'vod', 'private_id': 'k3ygyapwnvR2ftEnDhE', 'owner': 'x2ynwee', 'description': 'Patriots HC Mike Vrabel joins live at Gillette Stadium! 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Once a right of passage for Patriots fans had become an unattainable goal in the post-Brady era. But with the East crown up for grabs, fans once too cool for division champ hats and t-shirts are now anxiously awaiting a potential merch drop on Sunday afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. ET.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7oecm001m357t9j2e1kv3@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear on Monday’s Greg Hill Show that his group isn’t taking the opportunity for a “hat and t-shirt game” lightly.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7oeq2001n357ttlfxq8qv@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“We're playing for a championship this week,” Vrabel told WEEI. “Each week, you have a new opportunity, a new message. And this is a championship week for us, an opportunity to win the AFC East - something that this team hasn't done in five years, or that Buffalo has done it five years in a row.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7oesn001o357tsfo7ojan@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“To do that, you have to go out and play a certain way, and you have to do things and continue to improve. And so I don't - I mean, we didn't start and say, ‘Oh, we're going to win the Super Bowl in November.’ Then in November - it's not that. It's just conversations that I have with the team, and try to focus on things that we need to try to do and want to do, and understand that this is a great opportunity for us this week here at home.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7oeu8001p357t0rdiz6gt@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“Since the last time we've played, they've changed. We've changed. Hopefully it's going to be a fantastic game. That team's not going away. They have a quarterback who is an MVP quarterback that, under any circumstances, is going to be ready to either win the football game with whatever running or throwing that he has to do. And then whenever they need a play, he seems to make it.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7oevj001q357twlhj5t3h@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/WEEI/status/1998006099849494714', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Patriots HC Mike Vrabel joins! Vrabel discusses the &quot;Champion&quot; word. Vrabel: &quot;We are playing for a championship this week&quot;. What do the Patriots need to improve on? How are the Patriots staying focused and prepping for Buffalo? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/football?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#football</a> <a href="https://t.co/Wer991AhKk">pic.twitter.com/Wer991AhKk</a></p>&mdash; WEEI (@WEEI) <a href="https://twitter.com/WEEI/status/1998006099849494714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></blockquote>\n\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/cmix7qdky0034357tgqrr0q9x@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Nine weeks ago, when the Patriots went up to Buffalo and upset the Bills 23-20, it was their second consecutive victory after what most would consider a lukewarm start to the season. Nine weeks later, and Vrabel’s bunch has gotten that winning streak up to 10 straight games.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7oexg001r357tojoil03v@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“What did that Sunday night game in Buffalo do, if anything, to your expectations of this team?” asked WEEI’s Chris Curtis. “Because I feel like for everybody outside of this building, that was a moment that said, ‘Wow, this team is different than the ones we've seen recently.’”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7oeyy001s357t3ruvytq1@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“I don't know if it did anything for our expectations,” said Vrabel. “I think it gave us some confidence to be able to go and play on that stage and play on the road and beat an undefeated team at the time, which we all know is a good football team, which is fundamentally sound football team, one that you really - every time you beat them, you're going to earn it, and they're not going to usually hand it to you, you know? So that's a long time ago, but I don't know if it changed the expectation in my mind. I think it just gave us some confidence moving forward.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7of0m001t357ttwrpoqfx@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Vrabel’s group might have all the confidence in the world heading into Week 15, but the sportsbooks, albeit ever so slightly, are more confident in the five-time defending AFC East champions as of publishing.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7of22001u357tn1vksi5m@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Even as a home team that’s beaten Buffalo already this season, New England is currently listed as <a href="https://www.oddstrader.com/nfl/event/buffalo-bills-vs-new-england-patriots/odds/?egid=24&amp;eid=4765880&amp;seid=59654">a 1.5-point underdog</a>, sitting on the moneyline at -105 at BetMGM. The total for this one is set at 49.5.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7of3l001v357ts3ljubja@published'}, {'data': {'alt': 'Mike Vrabel', 'url': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/gettyimages2248968341594x594-38f081dc-c061-4470-967d-a2f81ce2254b.jpg', 'width': 594, 'credit': 'Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe/Getty Images', 'height': 396, 'caption': 'Foxborough, MA - December 1: New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel jokes around with running back Terrell Jennings during warmups. The Patriots played the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on December 1, 2025.', '_version': 1, 'imageLink': None, 'rendition': None, 'sizeInBytes': '51874', 'borderToggle': None, 'componentVariation': 'image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/image/instances/cmix7rg5b003e357tzoyv1req@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'There’s a chance for celebration in the postgame locker room on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. And with how bad things have gotten over the last five years, that chance alone should be celebrated by Patriots fans.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7of55001w357tpmgr3c7j@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The chance for a 23rd division title in franchise history is up for grabs, folks.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7of6u001x357ta5c0clwo@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<strong>Here’s a list of every year the New England Patriots have won a division title, both as a member of the AFC East and AFL East (pre-1970):</strong><strong></strong>', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7of8m001y357trgi6k7au@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 1963 (7-6-1)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofa4001z357t04piv13w@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 1978 (11-5)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofbn0020357tzqbvch48@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 1986 (11-5)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofd90021357t7skex6c6@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 1996 (11-5)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofem0022357tztmg7k0k@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 1997 (10-6)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofge0023357t8t8uetzh@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2001 (11-5)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofht0024357tefw8bcdq@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2003 (14-2)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofj80025357t82dhj7xv@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2004 (14-2)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofmx0026357taj0n6ye4@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2005 (10-6)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofnu0027357th2ehvby0@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2006 (12-4)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofpp0028357tmmasyilg@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2007 (16-0)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ofri0029357tue1jbj1r@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2009 (10-6)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7og1c002a357tm7vfoinc@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2010 (14-2)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7og5e002b357t46ej9wjz@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2011 (13-3)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7og6r002c357tswlomm5u@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2012 (12-4)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7oga6002d357tnkisqm3m@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2013 (12-4)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ogbu002e357tsgljqa7n@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2014 (12-4)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7oge7002f357tm2p5wxbk@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2015 (12-4)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ogi6002g357teqz2adj8@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2016 (14-2)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ogje002h357tc0u0wbd2@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2017 (13-3)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ogm7002i357t5c9lqwxi@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2018 (11-5)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ogpq002j357tmlqd8fra@published'}, {'data': {'text': '- 2019 (12-4)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ogue002k357tqo04j0od@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<em>Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.</em>', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmix7ogxm002l357trzfzxwcg@published'}], 'feedImg': {'data': {'alt': 'Mike Vrabel', 'url': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/gettyimages2248968341594x594-ab6f9e2b-7799-445c-b8d7-e2857102ecf7.jpg', 'width': 594, 'credit': 'Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe/Getty Images', 'height': 396, 'mimeType': 'image/jpeg', 'sizeInBytes': '51874', 'componentVariation': 'feed-image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/feed-image/instances/cmix7meam000e01uzux15835k@published'}, 'sources': [], '_version': 24, 'featured': False, 'headline': 'Mike Vrabel: ‘We’re playing for a championship this week’', 'msnTitle': 'Mike Vrabel: ‘We’re playing for a championship this week’', 'textTags': ['NFL', 'Football', 'New England Patriots', 'Mike Vrabel'], 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