Mike Vrabel is moving on to another familiar opponent, the Browns

FOXBOROUGH — After Sunday’s blowout victory over the Titans that led to Drake Maye handing him a game ball, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is now preparing for the Browns.

Vrabel spent the last season with the Browns as a coaching and personnel consultant after being fired by the Titans in January 2024. The Northeast Ohio native said he grew up a Browns fan and liked being able to contribute to the franchise while between head coaching jobs.

“I enjoyed that time. I enjoyed the people there, that organization,” Vrabel said on Monday. “I enjoyed working with [coach] Kevin [Stefanski], the offensive staff, Tommy Rees and Chad [O’Shea]. I played with Bubba [Ventrone]. So, a lot of good, young coaches. Jim Schwartz, I had a really good relationship with Schwartzy.”

Points have been at a premium for the Browns, who rank 30th in the league in scoring [16.1 points per game]. Sunday’s 31-6 win against the struggling Dolphins was somewhat of a breakthrough.

On defense, Cleveland is allowing a league-best 256.1 total yards per game. Defensive end Myles Garrett continues to wreak havoc in opposing backfields, with five sacks and 10 tackles for loss in seven games. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins has been a force in the middle. Cleveland has five defensive backs record an interception.

“They’re playing really well. They’re coming off a huge win,” Vrabel said. “They’re a great defense, offense is physical, physical O-line. Running backs are doing a nice job. So, we’re going to get prepared as soon as we shut the door here with the Titans and moving on to the Browns.”

Vrabel said communication and player development were key aspects of his job in Cleveland as he served as a resource for younger coaches. He has taken a more hands-on role in New England now that he is a head coach again.

“I didn’t try to get involved in the day-to-day operations. I was trying to help the players. I was trying to help the young coaches,” Vrabel said. “That wasn’t something that I got involved with. I tried to help with player development. But they have a great organization as far as the structure and everything. But I tried to be involved with the young coaches and with the young players, and help them in practice and help them develop.”

The Patriots are on a four-game winning streak, which includes three road victories. On Sunday, they’ll return to Gillette Stadium, where Vrabel will see familiar faces on the opposing sideline. Though five of the Patriots’ next seven games are at home, this is no time to be getting ahead of themselves.

“We’re going to focus on the next one, not five of the next seven, but certainly have appreciated the way that we’ve played on the road,” Vrabel said. “And we know how important the home games are. You have to hold serve, you have to be great at home and use that to an advantage to where it’s hard to operate, we’re giving them reasons to cheer, celebrate, and be excited. And so, those are things that are important to us. So, hopefully we’ll give them that product this weekend.”

Slow starts

The Patriots’ defense has allowed opponents to score on 5 of 7 opening drives this season. The Titans scored 10 of their 13 points in the first quarter, before going scoreless in the second half.

“We just didn’t do a very good job of matching their script and their scheme plays,” Vrabel said. “We’ve got to do a better job of being ready to go with some plays that maybe they’ve seen on tape or that are new, and using our fundamentals. But got beat on the script in their first plays and we’ll have to do a better job.”

What wrinkles did interim Titans coach Mike McCoy throw at the Patriots?

“Well, every week there’s something new,” Vrabel said. “I mean, he talked about throwing the throwback off the boot, off the keeper. So, they’ve had that in. Just like everybody else, they’ll see stuff on tape and try to dial it up or try to do something. That’s what this league is about.”

Along with preparing for those initial scripted plays, the Patriots need to stay on top of their fundamentals and talk to each other on defense, linebacker Jahlani Tavai said when asked how to combat the slow starts.

“The biggest thing is just making sure that we have good eyes, good keys, and communication,” Tavai said. “Communication is key and vital for our defense.”

Maye is OK

Maye left the game for a brief stretch in the third quarter after hitting his head on the turf at the end of a scramble.

He was quickly cleared to return, closing out a 12-play, 88-yard touchdown drive. He was able to finish the game. Vrabel was asked whether Maye was placed in concussion protocol on Monday.

“Not that I’m aware of,” the coach said.