His roster is crumbling, falling victim to this early-season rash of rampant injuries around the National Football League, and his quarterback, the runner-up MVP in 2025, is a puddle with a 58.6 passer rating through three games.
Heading into Buffalo on Sunday and coming off the worst loss of his New England Patriots coaching career, Mike Vrabel now faces what is likely his greatest challenge with the defending AFC champs.
Both the coach and his players know it.
It starts on Wednesday morning
Before even taking the field to prep for the challenge of Josh Allen, James Cook and the Bills, Vrabel has been adamant during his media time on Monday that the issues in his own house need to be tended to first.
“I have a lot of faith and confidence in everybody that is here. That is why they’re here,” said Vrabel.
“We have to continue to prepare and work with one another. The answers are here; the answers are in this building. We just have to do it much more consistently and continue to find ways to do it together.
“I think that starts with me. I think you have to be able to say, ‘Where did things go wrong?’”
USA TODAY Network
Players craving tougher coaching
Judging by the players, especially on the defensive side, it appears the woes in Jacksonville may have hatched in the week of practice leading up to it.
More than one defender talked about one specific need.
“I think he’ll do his best job (this week) to coach us as hard as he possibly can,” said safety and defensive captain Kevin Byard.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less. As a coach and a leader, we can’t let anything slide.”
Another captain, cornerback Marcus Jones, echoed the same sentiment.
“All of us, we want to be coached,” said Jones. “We’ve got to play harder when it comes down to it, and then practice harder and do the things we need to do.”
That responsibility to change things ultimately falls on Vrabel. And it starts on Wednesday morning.
