The Patriots are in the postseason for the first time in four years, and our readers have a lot on their minds.
Let’s answer their questions in this week’s mailbag.
@Patsfan19838268: Hi Doug – do you think Vrabel has any regret for how easy of a camp he ran given 2 of their losses were right out of the gate in September?
I wouldn’t. If I were head coach Mike Vrabel, I would have zero regrets whatsoever about how he handled this season. He turned a four-win team into a 14-win team. I think the Patriots probably would have lost those games regardless of how he handled training camp.
And in return, the Patriots have had an extremely healthy team this season. We’ll see what happens with Mack Hollins and Joshua Farmer when they’re eligible to return, but up to this point, running back Antonio Gibson was the only player lost for the season due to injury.
The Patriots were not considered a deep team heading into the 2025 season, so staying healthy was paramount and is one of the key reasons why that turnaround happened. And if going easier on the team in training camp helped them stay healthy during the season, then it was worth any early losses.
@stoolienate: I was pleasantly surprised with Bradbury this year. Think they lock him up long-term?
That’s tough. Garrett Bradbury will be 31 next season. And he’s already signed for 2026.
The Patriots currently have 2025 third-round pick Jared Wilson playing left guard, but it feels like his best position is still at center.
So, I would probably let Bradbury play out his contract and then decide if they want to re-sign him next offseason.
Bradbury has been a valuable addition on and off the field. He hasn’t allowed a sack, and he’s been a steady veteran leader in the locker room.
@kjbuys13: What’s the weather forecast for sunday night and why does drake not wear sleeves? Seems like in cold games it takes him a couple series to look himself..
That’s a good question, and one we could pose to Maye this week. My guess is that he’s simply more comfortable playing without sleeves. Or maybe he’s getting pressured to not look soft.
I don’t know if I agree that it takes him a bit to warm up. It was cold in New York a couple weeks ago when the Patriots went on six straight touchdown-scoring drives.
As for this week’s forecast, it’s supposed to be 25 degrees with a real feel of 11 and wind gusts up to 22 MPH on Sunday night.
That should be pretty uncomfortable for players accustomed to playing in sunny Los Angeles.
@MWery: Hey Doug Patriots must do this to beat Chargers
I agree with Bill Belichick that getting out to an early lead is big for the Patriots.
“This is a team that if the Chargers have to play from behind and have to pass block and try to protect and throw the ball 35, 40 times a game, I think they’re going to be in a lot of trouble,” Belichick said on SiriusXM.
The Chargers are without their top two tackles in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, and quarterback Justin Herbert is playing with a hand injury.
If the Patriots get out to an early lead, then outside linebackers K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder and Harold Landry (if healthy), can tee off on those tackles. Defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are also at their best in the passing game, bringing pressure.
The Patriots do not have a particularly efficient pass rush, but they’re also not completley ineffective.
Maye and the Patriots’ offense have the ability to start hot. The defense just can’t take a nap on early drives like they have at times this season.
@sabnabdab: Chicken wings or nachos?
Can I pick both? If not, wings.
@silkytheIII: Tbh.. im more so looking forward to a hate watch of the Bills lol I want us to win of course but it wont bug me too much if we dont. We have the youngest QB in the playoffs. Josh Allen getting bounced 1st round with no Pat, Lamar or Burrow will just hit much much harder for me
If both teams stay good, then the Patriots-Bills rivalry has a chance to be among the best in sports thanks to two strong (and petty) fanbases.
@ted_mcgregor: Another game where having someone as good as Gonzalez feels a bit wasted, given the Chargers also don’t employ a true #1 . Has this year made you question whether investing long term in him makes sense? Especially in light of the Sauce trade going in to summer.
It doesn’t make me question it. I’d still sign Christian Gonzalez long-term.
He’s one of the Patriots’ best players, and they should be trying to build up the team with homegrown talent.
Gonzalez wasn’t quite as much of a game-changer this season, but he still allowed just 35 catches on 76 targets for 357 yards and one touchdown this season, per PFF. That’s a 64.4 passer rating against.
Among 56 cornerbacks who played at least 700 snaps this season, Gonzalez ranked ninth-lowest in yards allowed. He was one of 10 cornerbacks to allow one or fewer touchdowns.
Would you like to see him have better ball skills in the future? Sure. But few cornerbacks around the NFL can replicate Gonzalez’s value.
@JohnBenne33: Injury updates?
We’ll know more by Wednesday afternoon when the Patriots practice.
As of Monday, Vrabel was saying it was too early to know if OLB Harold Landry, LB Robert Spillane, DT Khyiris Tonga and LG Jared Wilson would be able to return by Sunday.
It would be a major boost to get Landry, Spillane and Tonga healthy and added to the defense. They would be at full strength, which is remarkable for this time of year.
The Patriots’ run defense was a force early in the season when Spillane, Landry, Tonga and Milton Williams were all sharing the field. That will be key this week against the Chargers.
@Fourrings: Why is Henderson not used more in the passing game (similar to Shane Vereen)?
I think his lack of dependability as a pass blocker is a major factor. Since Rhamondre Stevenson returned from a toe injury, TreVeyon Henderson has only been used as a pass blocker in just seven snaps, per PFF. Stevenson has been used as a pass blocker in 31 snaps in that same span of time, per PFF.
The Patriots have tried to combat that with some of their pony sets (Stevenson and Henderson sharing the field). They’ve used that personnel grouping 46 times, with about half of those coming since Week 13.
First, it gets two impactful players on the field. Second, it allowed Henderson to get snaps in the passing game while still having the ability to use Stevenson in blitz pickup.