{'byline': 'by Tom Carroll', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': '', 'hide_author': True, 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': 'weei', 'path': 'weei/sports/patriots/mike-vrabel-says-pats-have-a-lot-of-things-to-improve-on'}], 'syndicated_items': [{'station': 'waaf', 'path': '/waaf/sports/mike-vrabel-says-pats-have-a-lot-of-things-to-improve-on'}, {'station': 'mix1041', 'path': '/mix1041/sports/mike-vrabel-says-pats-have-a-lot-of-things-to-improve-on'}, {'station': 'magic1067', 'path': '/magic1067/sports/mike-vrabel-says-pats-have-a-lot-of-things-to-improve-on'}, {'station': 'big103boston', 'path': '/big103boston/sports/mike-vrabel-says-pats-have-a-lot-of-things-to-improve-on'}, {'station': 'wtic', 'path': '/wtic/sports/new-england-patriots/mike-vrabel-says-pats-have-a-lot-of-things-to-improve-on'}], 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v44', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2026-01-12T14:22:59.697Z', 'lead': [{'data': {'title': 'Patriots HC Mike Vrabel joins live at Gillette Stadium! 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Justin Herbert was held to just 159 passing yards after being sacked 6 times, with PFF grading New England out with 30 pressures on the Pro Bowl QB on the night.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8sp81001l357vacwi3eaz@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'It was reminiscent of the dynasty years Vrabel was a part of as a player, and it was enough to prop up an offense for the Patriots that had its worst game in months - arguably since <a href="https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/patriots/ups-and-downs-as-patriots-open-vrabel-era-with-loss-to-raiders">their Week 1 loss to the Raiders</a> (3-14).', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8spay001m357vs9kqhzp6@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'With that said, Vrabel told The Greg Hill Show on Monday that he knows they need to play better on offense moving forward to have a real shot at making a run.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8spcl001n357vtqvxb1n9@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“There's a lot of things for us to improve on, starting at the top, all the way down,” said Vrabel. “And I think that's what's been great about this thing is that we've all been willing to accept responsibility and improve and be critical of our performances and try to get better, because that's what we've talked about - that the teams that continue to improve are the ones that stick around.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8spdu001o357vh63fl8mv@published'}, {'data': {'alt': 'Mike Vrabel', 'url': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/gettyimages2255795297594x594-3770db4d-1038-4d86-9db6-2ab069b27006.jpg', 'width': 594, 'credit': 'Adam Glanzman/Getty Images', 'height': 396, 'caption': 'FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.', '_version': 1, 'imageLink': None, 'rendition': None, 'sizeInBytes': '28840', 'borderToggle': None, 'componentVariation': 'image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/image/instances/cmkb8wmnd002g357vhhk2jmz7@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Drake Maye, in particular, had a rough go on Sunday.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8spf8001p357vv1qsm58j@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Despite throwing for 268 yards along with the game-sealing touchdown pass to Hunter Henry with 9:45 to play in the fourth, he accounted for two fumbles and an almost-devastating interception that gave the Chargers a goal-to-go situation early in the first quarter.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8spgt001q357vjnfak4jk@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The potential league MVP had a bad night by his incredibly high standards, yet battled through the adversity and did just enough to get his team the victory.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8spin001r357vphsk67dz@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“Drake was the first to say [it wasn’t] his best game, but gave all the credit to the defense,” said WEEI’s Courtney Cox. “I think what's most impressive, for me, is watching him - he doesn't let himself spiral. He stays in it, shows grit in a game like that. Is that rare to see such a young player display something like that when the lights are the brightest?”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8spju001s357vt4ko9daa@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“I think it's hard for me to say that,” said Vrabel. “I've only been around Deshaun [Watson] in Houston, who was young. And we had a veteran quarterback with Ryan [Tannehill] in Tennessee.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8splm001t357v714rkrko@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“So for what Drake was able to do, I thought it was huge to be able to gain explosive plays with his legs when he needed to. And then, obviously, to throw to Hunter off platform - TreVeyon [Henderson] comes up, and that's a lot harder than what it looks. TreVeyon has got to get around Drake - and I've seen fumbles caused - and he's got to be able to avoid Drake, and then come back and get the pressure, pick up the pressure. Drake was able to slide and then really throw an unbelievable ball to Hunter.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8spn8001u357v099uclit@published'}, {'data': {'alt': 'Drake Maye', 'url': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/gettyimages2255806093594x594-7ed30929-0bea-470e-8f3e-408b0a942273.jpg', 'width': 594, 'credit': 'Sarah Stier/Getty Images', 'height': 396, 'caption': 'FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Teair Tart #90 of the Los Angeles Chargers sacks Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots during the third quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.', '_version': 1, 'imageLink': None, 'rendition': None, 'sizeInBytes': '47131', 'borderToggle': None, 'componentVariation': 'image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/image/instances/cmkb8zcxg002p357v1rso1vlq@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Maye’s legs were a factor in the game, leading all Pats rushers with 66 yards on the day. His ability to pick up chunk plays when he couldn’t find anyone open was a crucial part of New England putting up just enough points to come away with the win.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8spom001v357vku3h35h2@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'With the Patriots having lost at home <a href="https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/patriots/ups-and-downs-as-patriots-give-it-away-in-loss-to-steelers">to the Steelers in Week 3</a> earlier this season, and the Texans sporting arguably the best defense in the NFL in 2025, there’s not a whole lot of wiggle room for a performance like this again for New England as the postseason rolls along.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8st4l001w357v3k8lt86w@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'That improvement Vrabel talked about on Monday needs to show up early and often this upcoming Sunday, as the margin gets thinner and thinner moving forward.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkb8st5t001x357vt62uq57a@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/cmkb8st7f001y357v53137gp0@published'}], 'feedImg': {'data': {'alt': 'Drake Maye', 'url': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/gettyimages2255806093594x594-306a51cf-c1cb-4dfe-bdd6-8908e8d1bfeb.jpg', 'width': 594, 'credit': 'Sarah Stier/Getty Images', 'height': 396, 'mimeType': 'image/jpeg', 'sizeInBytes': '47131', 'componentVariation': 'feed-image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/feed-image/instances/cmkb8r326001d01tuqp8kan2v@published'}, 'sources': [], '_version': 24, 'featured': False, 'headline': 'Mike Vrabel says Patriots have ‘a lot of things to improve on’ after squeaking by Chargers', 'msnTitle': 'Mike Vrabel says Patriots have ‘a lot of things to improve on’ after squeaking by Chargers', 'textTags': ['NFL', 'Football', 'New 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