What Mike Vrabel has accomplished in short order with the New England Patriots has been remarkable. Now 14 games into his first season as head coach, fans now know exactly what to expect on Sundays: A team that starts on time and often imposes its will on opponents early and often.
Entering Week 16, Vrabel’s Patriots lead the NFL in first-half scoring, averaging 16.7 points per game, according to Team Rankings. That trend was on full display in Sunday’s tough loss to Buffalo, with New England racing out to an early 21-0 lead; in their previous game, in Week 13, the Patriots surged to a 30-7 lead over the New York Giants in the second quarter.