NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mike Vrabel congratulated Brian Callahan when Tennessee hired him as Vrabel’s successor because the Titans’ head coach.
Vrabel additionally texted Callahan after being fired six games into his second season.
“I simply keep in mind all these coaches or those who reached out after I used to be let go,” Vrabel stated. “I believe that that’s necessary as a result of no one texts if you lose, all of them textual content if you win. So, it’s a superb reminder.”
Vrabel returns Sunday to educate in opposition to the franchise that gave him his first NFL head teaching job. He spent six seasons with the Titans and had three playoff berths, two AFC South titles, an AFC championship look and a 54-45 file.
With the New England Patriots 4-2 and sitting atop the AFC East in his first season, Sunday is Vrabel’s alternative to remind Titans followers and possession what they misplaced by firing him in January 2024. Being on the opposite sideline can be a bit totally different.
That is the Patriots’ third straight highway sport, and New England is available in having gained three straight with the final a 25-19 victory at New Orleans. Vrabel and his Patriots face a Tennessee franchise in turmoil.
“There’s lots there to unpack exterior of the fascinating indisputable fact that I used to educate in Tennessee,” Vrabel stated.
Not solely was Callahan fired after a 1-5 begin and 4-19 file, the Titans are 10-30 in a skid that began below Vrabel. Mike McCoy will debut because the Titans’ interim coach, his first head teaching job since being fired by the San Diego Chargers on the finish of the 2016 season.
McCoy isn’t anxious about protecting the Titans’ consideration with this franchise on the lookout for their first house win since beating the Patriots in extra time Nov. 3, 2024. Tennessee is house after its personal three-game highway swing capped by a 20-10 loss on the Las Vegas Raiders.
“That is the NFL,” McCoy stated. “All of us have a job to do.”
The Patriots can be following Vrabel’s strategy ignoring all the eye that goes together with the coach’s return to Tennessee.
“He’s not treating it like an enormous deal, so it’s sort of bleeding into us,” Patriots quarterback Drake Maye stated. “We’re treating it like one other week, one other opponent, and treating it the identical. The way in which he’s dealing with it’s the proper manner.”
Keep centered
The Patriots have already got matched their win complete for every of the previous two seasons and should not pondering forward. Security Jaylinn Hawkins stated he will get the sense that New England is doing a superb job at prioritizing enchancment and letting outcomes stem from that.
“We’re probably not anxious in regards to the ‘he say-she say,’” Hawkins stated. “I name it poison. It reminds you of poison. We’re not getting too excessive or too low. We’re making an attempt to remain prepared.”
It’s additionally why Vrabel doesn’t need his workforce motivated to win in Tennessee due to him.
“We’re not making an attempt to win one for the Gipper right here,” Vrabel stated. “We’re simply making an attempt to ensure these guys are centered on enhancing.”
Look ahead to Simmons
Three-time Professional Bowl defensive sort out Jeffery Simmons is the one participant the Patriots should watch with him off to the very best begin of his profession. He’s simply the third sort out in 17 seasons with a minimum of 4 1/2 sacks and eight tackles for loss within the first six video games, becoming a member of Geno Atkins (2012 and 2018) and Aaron Donald (2015).
And Simmons needs a win as a workforce captain to assist McCoy in his new position.
“We’ve acquired to ensure we’re doing our a part of serving to him out as leaders and captains to maintain this locker room collectively,” Simmons stated. “And ensuring … (we’re) able to go play in opposition to a superb soccer workforce that’s coming in right here I’m certain that’s going to attempt to embarrass us at house.”
Run stoppers
The Titans have positioned lots on the shoulders of rookie quarterback Cam Ward and now the No. 1 decide total is working with a brand new head coach. Ward might need to do much more this week in opposition to one of many NFL’s high run defenses.
The Patriots rank fourth within the NFL in opposition to the run, permitting solely 83.5 yards per sport. New England can be permitting simply 3.46 yards per rush via the primary six video games, the third-lowest mark within the NFL this season.
The Patriots are additionally the one workforce this season that has not surrendered 50 yards to a working again via the primary six video games.
Harm watch
The Titans would possibly get nostril sort out T’Vondre Sweat again from injured reserve for this sport to assist Simmons with all of the double-teams he’s confronted. However huge receiver Calvin Ridley harm a hamstring final week that knocked him out of the sport. Kicker Joey Slye might return Sunday after he missed a sport with a calf damage.
(Copyright (c) 2024 The Related Press. All Rights Reserved. This materials might not be printed, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
