Mike Vrabel has admitted his concern is 'very high' after the New England Patriots suffered a 35–6 defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, 27 September. The loss dropped the defending AFC (American Football Conference) champions to 1–2 and exposed problems with turnovers, penalties, red-zone execution and an offence that failed to score.
'My concern level is very high for this football team,' Vrabel said after the game. 'We have to take care of the football.'
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel postgame:
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) September 27, 2026
“My concern level is very high for this football team. I just wanna coach and improve. I think that’s the biggest thing when you come off a game like that. You just wanna get back and work.”
(🎥 @Patriots) pic.twitter.com/qXHV9FdCON
Quarterback Drake Maye turned the ball over three times, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards without a touchdown as New England went 0-for-3 in the red zone and committed nine penalties for 68 yards.
The defeat was the biggest of the Vrabel era and leaves New England with little time to address its problems before a Week 4 trip to Buffalo.
Turnovers Turned the Game
New England's first major opportunity came after cornerback Marcus Jones intercepted Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the second quarter. The pick gave the Patriots possession at the Jacksonville 21-yard line while they trailed 7–0.
Four plays later, kicker Andy Borregales cut the deficit to 7–3 with a 35-yard field goal. Jacksonville responded with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to Jakobi Meyers.
Maye then had another chance before half-time. Facing third-and-goal from the Jacksonville two-yard line, he threw towards Efton Chism III in the end zone. Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter intercepted the pass, preserving a 14–3 lead.
Maye's second interception came later in the game, while his lost fumble helped Jacksonville score its opening touchdown. He was replaced by Tommy DeVito in the fourth quarter with the outcome effectively decided.
Vrabel Takes the Blame
Vrabel did not put the defeat solely on Maye. He said the problems extended across the team and accepted responsibility for the Patriots' preparation and execution.
'We haven't made good decisions with the football,' Vrabel said. 'It starts with me.'
The Patriots were penalised nine times for 68 yards, compared with seven penalties for 56 yards by Jacksonville. New England also converted only four of 12 third downs, while the Jaguars went 8-for-12 and finished 5-for-5 in the red zone.
Vrabel said the Patriots had failed to take advantage of Jacksonville's mistakes and needed to improve in all three phases.
Maye's Turnovers Mount
Maye entered the game having thrown three interceptions against Seattle in the season opener and one more in the Patriots' Week 2 victory over Pittsburgh.
Through three games, he has six interceptions and seven total giveaways. The performance added further scrutiny to his decision-making, particularly after Hunter's end-zone interception.
Maye accepted responsibility after the game, saying he needed to 'look at myself in the mirror' and describing the offence's performance as unacceptable.
The quarterback was not the only problem. New England entered Jacksonville without several starters, including wide receiver A.J. Brown, starting right guard Mike Onwenu, edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones, starting safety Craig Woodson and tight end Eli Raridon. Onwenu's replacement, Greg Van Roten, was also injured during the game.
Jacksonville Punished the Mistakes
Jacksonville's offence was efficient enough to keep pressure on New England throughout the afternoon. Lawrence completed 19 of 29 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns, while the Jaguars ran for 137 yards.
The Jaguars scored 28 unanswered points after New England's first field goal, turning a 7–3 deficit into a 35–6 victory. Jacksonville also forced three turnovers, with Hunter recording his first NFL interception and Jarrian Jones returning another interception 32 yards to set up a five-yard touchdown run by Chris Rodriguez Jr.
The Jaguars improved to 2–1 and extended their regular-season home winning streak to six games.
Buffalo Awaits in Week 4
New England now travels to Buffalo to face the undefeated Bills on Sunday, 4 October.
For Vrabel, the immediate task is straightforward: improve the Patriots' ball security, discipline and execution before they face another AFC contender in Buffalo.
