New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel had a message for his team ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl LX showdown with the Seattle Seahawks. He went through a pregame routine, with the game set to kick off in short order. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported this.
Vrabel leaned into the underdog role on Sunday morning, playing U2’s “Beautiful Day” during the team meeting. The band was the halftime performer for Super Bowl XXXVI, when the Patriots took on the St. Louis Rams in 2001. The coach relayed that the team was underdogs then, and that no one expected them to win.
He also gave them the words “Belief,” “Identity” and “Rage” to focus on, in a three-word message to the team, as noted by Breer.
History Repeating Itself for Patriots
Vrabel was a part of that 2001 team. The Patriots went 11-5 that season and met the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl. The Rams were given the moniker of “The Greatest Show on Turf.” They had a tremendous offense that year, scoring 503 points, which equated to 31.4 points per game. This was first in the NFL. They had 6,690 yards of total offense, including 4.903 passing yards.
The passing attack was led by quarterback Kurt Warner, who threw for 4,830 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. Marshall Faulk took care of things in the running game, recording 260 carries for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. Elevating the Rams’ passing attack, Torry Holt had 81 receptions for 1,363 yards and seven touchdowns. Issac Bruce had 64 catches for 1,106 yards and six touchdowns. Simply put, this was one of the greatest offenses in NFL history.
The Patriots were coming into the game with an upstart, young quarterback by the name of Tom Brady. They also had a 1,000-yard rusher in Antowain Smith, but their offensive playmakers were not as significant as those of the Rams. Simply put, they were the underdogs.
The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17, thanks in part to an Adam Vinatieri game-winning field goal. The Super Bowl would set the Patriots’ first dynasty in motion.
History Repeating Itself for Patriots
Now, history has a chance to repeat itself. The Patriots have been viewed as underdogs throughout the course of the season and are facing a potent Seahawks offense. They too have playmakers on the offensive side of the football in wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kenneth Walker. They also have a quarterback in Sam Darnold who has been able to elevate his play during his time in Seattle.
To their credit, the Patriots have defensive playmakers as well. Defensive tackles Milton Williams II and Christian Barmore will help lead the way in that area. Corner Christian Gonzalez will be shadowing Smith-Njigba in what should be one of the more intriguing individual matchups of the entire game. Either way, there will be playmakers all over the field.
History will have a chance to repeat itself for the Patriots on Sunday. Vrabel will be on the sidelines as coach this time around, hoping for a similar result to the first time he played in the Super Bowl.
Patriots’ Mike Vrabel’s Message for Team Prior to Super Bowl LX