Mike Vrabel earned his first win as Patriots coach and 100th of his career in a 33-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye accounted for three touchdowns, including two passing and one rushing.
Antonio Gibson’s 90-yard kick return touchdown in the fourth quarter was a key turning point for New England.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Mike Vrabel ran as fast as he could down the New England Patriots’ sideline.
He was so excited, he could not help himself.
He just couldn’t catch whom he was running after.
Antonio Gibson scored a 90-yard kick return touchdown with Vrabel briefly chugging along beside him, quarterback Drake Maye accounted for three touchdowns, and the Patriots outlasted the Miami Dolphins, 33-27, at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 14.
Vrabel – the three-time Super Bowl champion as a Patriots player – secured his first victory as Patriots coach, and the 100th win of his NFL coaching career.
“I’m proud of our team,” Vrabel said. “It will always be about the players – now and forever.”
Gibson’s touchdown with 7:06 left in the fourth quarter, immediately answered a 74-yard punt return by Dolphins returner Malik Washington on the previous drive.
It was the turning point in the Week 2 matchup to help the Patriots retake the lead, and their fifth victory since Bill Belichick left the franchise two seasons ago.
Patriots defender Milton Williams sacked Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with 53 seconds remaining to help New England bounce back after its 20-13 loss in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“I’m just excited for these guys,” Vrabel said. “I’m really excited they could fight, compete, come on the road, be in a game. … There’s a lot to coach from, but it’s going to be easier to coach from a win.”
Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, was 19 of 23 for 230 yards. He threw touchdown passes Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte on his first two drives of the first quarter, and scored a 6-yard rushing touchdown in the second half.
Maye also ensured Vrabel would get the game-ball after he kneeled on the final play of the game.
“It was awesome. Just rallying around coach, how much he cares about us, how much of a player’s coach he is,” Maye said of the Patriots’ locker room after the win. “It took everybody, but obviously he’s leading the charge. That meant something special.”
As the Tennessee Titans coach from 2018-2023, Vrabel had a 99-54 record highlighted by a trip to the 2019 AFC title game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Vrabel was hired to replace Jerod Mayo, who went 4-13 last year with two six-game losing streaks last season.
It may be far-fetched for New England to replicate the glory of being NFL frontrunners with Belichick and former quarterback Tom Brady fueling six Super Bowls and 17 AFC East titles.
Vrabel is just scratching the surface in his coaching tenure with his former club. He believes they’re, at least, off to an admirable start they can build on.
“We’re not front runners and that’s a big thing in this league,” Vrabel said.
“I appreciate the character. … There’s a lot of things we have to do better, but we didn’t pout. We didn’t drop our heads. We moved onto the next play, and we kept on competing. We have to learn to compete and believe we can win football games.”