After the New England Patriots defeated the New York Jets 26-19 in Week 6, Mike Vrabel was unimpressed with how his team performed, emphasizing that they still need to improve.
Some may have seen Vrabel's criticism as harsh, particularly when he called the team "fortunate" to win. However, multiple mistakes allowed the Jets to hang around. They included dropped catches and fumbles, which could've cost the team the game.
Even though they won, it wasn't the most impressive victory, and Vrabel made that abundantly clear in his postgame remarks. He may have also made it clear during the game by getting into defensive tackle Milton Williams' ear.
The defensive tackle shared his blunt reaction to his coach's on-field jawing, saying he was "just talkin' noise" about playing better and "getting a sack" to "get the quarterback on the ground."
During his postgame media session, Williams then gave his assessment of Vrabel, including some hilarious, explicit name-calling.
"Y'all know Vrabes, man; he's a [expletive], he gon' be an [expletive], and that's how he is, but I wouldn't have it no other way... he challenges us week in, week out, day in, day out. And I think that is going to continue to just help us get better and better as the year goes on," Williams told reporters.
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And Williams took down Jets quarterback Geno Smith in the first quarter. The former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl winner finished with three total tackles, including two solo tackles and his first sack of the season.
That was one of three sacks the Patriots' defense had on Smith. They also intercepted Smith, held the Jets to under 100 rushing yards, and prevented the Jets from scoring a touchdown on any of their three red-zone possessions.
It's hard to point a finger at the defensive effort, although the Jets held the ball longer than the Patriots and managed to get 227 passing yards. The Jets' only touchdown of the game came on a 48-yard pass from Smith to Omar Cooper Jr., early in the third quarter, to get them within seven points.
With the win, the Patriots are 4-2 and in contention with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills again for the division. They beat the Bills two games ago, suggesting they have what it takes to get key wins on their schedule.
Still, Vrabel wants the best from his players, especially with expectations high after the Patriots reached the Super Bowl yet lost to the Seattle Seahawks in February. He likely realizes that addressing those mistakes now will help the Patriots secure tougher wins against opponents down the road.
That starts with the Chicago Bears in "Thursday Night Football," a team that just got their star quarterback, Caleb Williams, back after he missed multiple games with a hamstring tear.
The two teams will face off beginning at 8:20 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 22 in Chicago.
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