It isn't lost on New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel that the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't one of the more productive offensive football teams in the NFL.
So while it's completely fine to celebrate the defense holding legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers and company to just three points, it's not an accomplishment worth the Patriots losing their head over.
It's important to keep things in perspective when moving on to some of the tougher offensive teams on the schedule, including the next two games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. Those are the games where the Patriots' defense is really going to get tested.
“I don’t think this was one of the best offenses we’ll face this year, so try to keep things in perspective and go from
there," Vrabel said on The Greg Hill Show, via Boston Herald's Doug Kyed.
Mike Vrabel with an honest moment, talking about the Patriots defense’s performance against the Steelers on @TheGregHillShow:
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) September 21, 2026
“I don’t think this was one of the best offenses we’ll face this year, so try to keep things in perspective and go from there.”
There are concerns about the defensive pass rush for New England, but they have still found ways to generate pressure in games, even without their top 2025 edge rusher, Harold Landry III, on the field. Dre'Mont Jones also left Sunday's game early with an injury.
On the backend, they still have tremendous talent with Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones and Kevin Byard. However, both safety Craig Woodson and cornerback Carlton Davis III are banged up.
Vrabel's comments were less of a shot at Pittsburgh's offense and more of a reality check for the Patriots. The level of difficulty will only increase, and every player on the roster must stay on their toes.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Mike Vrabel's brutally honest admission on the Steelers' offense
