The New England Patriots have displayed a significant turnaround this season with a 12-3 win-loss record. Head coach Mike Vrabel has been the key factor, making adjustments as players went down with injuries. And now, while the Pats are on the verge of clinching the division, HC Vrabel sent a clear message to his locker room as the team confronts a significant challenge, listing a staggering 14 players on its latest injury report.

“Just to make sure that everybody understood what the expectations were. A lot of ways to win football games in this league. But that was gonna be making sure that they all understood that, making sure that they knew that this was the priority, and that’s what we’ve tried to do,” the head coach said. “Now, we haven’t done it. We still have opportunities to do it.”

Ahead of this season, everyone expected an improvement from Mike Vrabel’s locker room. But no one predicted them to be such a dominant team. They flipped the tables on the Buffalo Bills, who won the AFC East division five consecutive times until last year.

Both teams had similar win-loss records until Week 6 (4-2). As the Bills rested during their bye week in Week 7, the Pats won their matchup against the Tennessee Titans. They haven’t looked back since then. It has been Mike Vrabel’s influence on their culture change.

They even defeated the Bills in their first game in Week 5. But the Bills also fought back in the second matchup in Week 15 by defeating the Pats 35-31. However, the bigger surprise is that the Pats have won games using the team as a unit.

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While quarterback Drake Maye has led from the front with the best accuracy (70.9% completion rate), their top running back, TreVeyon Henderson (seven touchdowns), and wide receiver Stefon Diggs (three scores) aren’t among the top 15 players at their position in the league for any stats.

Yet, the head coach has ignored one thing. Injury management! It could cost them big time in the upcoming matchup.

Mike Vrabel is dealing with a banged-up roster

The Pats will travel to MetLife Stadium for the Week 17 divisional clash against the New York Jets on Sunday, December 28. However, Mike Vrabel has yet to decide who will not board the plane. He has a lot of names to check, which could also affect their gameplan.

They listed eight players for not practicing on the first day on Wednesday, December 24. The wide receivers group has issues with Kayshon Boutte (Concussion Protocol) and Mack Hollins (abdomen). While Hollins has the third-most receiving yards (550) from 46 receptions with two touchdowns, Boutte has the fourth-most yards (31 receptions for 527 yards) with six scores.

Tight end CJ Dippre stayed away from practice with an illness. Left guard Jared Wilson is also out with concussion protocol.

The other four players are from the defensive side. Cornerback Carlton Davis III (illness), linebackers Harold Landry III (knee) and Robert Spillane (ankle), and nose tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot) did not practice on the first day.

Mike Vrabel has six players who practiced in a limited capacity. Five of them belong to the offensive group. Other than cornerback Charles Woods (foot), the Pats are dealing with injuries to receiver DeMario Douglas, Henderson (concussion protocol), running back Terrell Jennings (ankle), left tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee), and right tackle Morgan Moses (knee). Henderson is the top priority, being the team’s best running back.

While Mike Vrabel has made his aim clear, he needs to prepare a healthy roster in time for the Week 17 game and later for the playoffs.