Head Coach Mike Vrabel 10/4: "Our guys worked extremely hard this week"

Mike Vrabel (0:00)

Go ahead, Nicole.

Nicole (0:01)

What do you make of that catch by Afton?

Mike Vrabel (0:04)

I mean, it's just a guy taking advantage of his opportunities. Nobody, you know, we have a lot of guys that work hard, and I would say that nobody's going to outwork Chiz. His prepper...

Sorry, guys.

That's okay. I meant...

I'm sure everybody's new trying to get down here, a new stadium and everything else. Is that about everybody else? Anybody else with you guys? Okay. Nicola just asked about the catch by Chiz. Said that nobody works harder. You know, I mean, plenty of guys work hard, but I mean, Chiz is literally in Todd Downing's office before 6 o'clock every morning, if not 5.30. Getting the game plan down to know every position. He's an extremely hard worker. His toughness, his routine, and it's really cool to see guys like that take advantage of their opportunities and obviously stepping up in a critical situation. This is what this league is about.

SPEAKER_3 (1:01)

What was your understanding of the unsportsmanlike penalty?

Mike Vrabel (1:05)

I told him it was a terrible, I'm not going to say f-ing call. I've said that 87 times since I've been a head coach. There was nothing derogatory.

You know, you'd have to ask him. I think he was a little sensitive. Once I get the word from upstairs that it wasn't what we felt like it was a good call, which I'm going to trust stretch with my life. I probably shouldn't have swore, but I could tell you that in my history of being on the sidelines as a head coach.

I've said that and I apologize to him. And again, players, you know, responded was unfortunate and I have to be better in those moments.

SPEAKER_3 (1:46)

Might come into Buffalo four and a half to go basically come up with that drive that you guys have done in the past.

Nicole (1:51)

One influence in the interception.

SPEAKER_3 (1:53)

What does that do for you guys as a team?

Mike Vrabel (1:55)

We'll see. It gets us back in the race. And it really and our guys worked extremely hard this week. And we knew that, you know, it was going to be a battle. I mean, Josh is unbelievable.

You know me, but I felt like Drake went went toe to toe with him. We had a couple turnovers that we have to be able to continue to eliminate. But we knew that if we took advantage of some opportunities, we'd get some too. And so they have an excellent football team. We have great staff, excellent players. And, you know, we're lucky to get out of here with a win. But it does get us back into the race.

SPEAKER_4 (2:30)

Mike, what was the mentality that you wanted your team to play with? You went for the two early four downs.

Mike Vrabel (2:36)

Yeah, I mean, you play Josh Allen, you're going to have to be aggressive. I mean, it's going to be, you know, we can hope and wish that we can stop them. And sometimes you do. I mean, we got some huge three and outs. And sometimes we got the drive stopped and sometimes we didn't.

And that's what elite players do. You know, he's never out of it. And so we wanted to try to stay, you know, aggressive at our moments. And the guys rewarded us, you know, by converting.

Nicole (3:03)

Do you notice he's been differently from Drake had he been this week?

Mike Vrabel (3:07)

I mean, again, he just did extremely prepared and, you know, focused and, you know, had a good week practice. You know, for the most part, I thought that there was some protection. I thought he was decisive. If the guys are, everybody's out of there and taking off and running. That certainly helps and a lot for us to correct.

But I really just appreciate the way that we competed and that we fought against a good veteran football team.

SPEAKER_5 (3:37)

Mike, you contained Josh Allen extremely well today. How does that factor into the decision making in the third and fourth quarter on defense?

Mike Vrabel (3:44)

I mean, again, it's just how many times can you blitz him? They ran a few times. I thought we were excellent against the run. We got a little leaky there, which allowed them to get, you know, the ball across midfield and then, you know, they extended the play. We weren't able to get, you know, any rush and they hit one down the field. So extremely proud of the way, you know, the defensive staff, but most importantly, the players. You know, I mean, all the credit goes to those guys of being out there and containing them and not letting them extend and make plays out to his right.