PostGame Thread 2026 Official Postgame Thread: Patriots close out preseason w/37-13 loss to the Browns

[Joey007]

Considering how well he played the prior 2 games and what we’ve heard in camp, I was really disappointed with Prunty’s play tonight. He was flat out beaten a few times. Hopefully he’s able to take something from this experience.

The one thing that did confuse me was Vildor and Prunty’s major drop off tonight. They looked much better against better competition the previous two games.

I may just chalk it as an off game for the them. Coverage we were running tonight was.. very soft.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Hmmm.

I posted this elsewhere, but adding a bit more context, Zack Cox added that Vrabel said his not playing STs would be a factor in that.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[manxman2601]

Didn’t he come back later?

Yup.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

The one thing that did confuse me was Vildor and Prunty’s major drop off tonight. They looked much better against better competition the previous two games.

I may just chalk it as an off game for the them. Coverage we were running tonight was.. very soft.

Yeah, I mean clearly they weren’t doing any scheming or any aggressive play calling, and it was ultimately just fundamentals and seeing which players could handle others one on one. Just surprised that virtually all of them looked lost, especially these two guys who had shown well and I had thought played themselves onto the team to that point.

As disappointing as the effort was, it’s still preseason, and I just got reminded that they lost 45-10 to the Giants in this game last year looking similarly as bad. The staff has had past success at separating the wheat from the chaff in performances like this, so I expect they’ll do so again this time and pick the right guys to keep. And then we’ll be shocked at Thanksgiving talking about how so and so has somehow managed to be a revelation after what looked like a terrible performance in the preseason.

 

[Ian]

This is done:

TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Postgame Press Conference 8/27 | PatsFans.com

Here's the full transcript of what New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to say following the Patriots' 37-13 loss to the Browns Thursday night.

www.patsfans.com

 

[mgteich]

I thought the defense was playing ok until the pass interference by Vildor.

We have very different views of the patriot Defense in the first quarter.

I thought that they had a poor performance.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

We have very different views of the patriot Defense in the first quarter.

I thought that they had a poor performance.

Pssst…. The PI was the 4th play of the game, on 3rd and 9….

 

[mgteich]

Huge bright spots: Williams and Crownover.

 

[Grogan14]

Embarrassing. Yes its only pre season, but losinng 37-13 speaks to some problems with the roster make up.
No points in second half and giving up 37 points to third stringers.

Taylor Green >>>Behren Morton

Kyle Williams is a keeper

Edge and LB are huge problems and the fact that they were not dressed in free agency is on Vrabel and the Front Office. No fixes are coming in the door at this point. Pass rush is going to be a big problem m this year for the patriots.

Overall, it seems like the RB position is not going to be anything special

QB 3 Morton is a JAG. I think the Ptats could have done better than Devito and Morton. Obviously if Drake goes down, we could be looking at a 4 win team.

To improve depth Patriots are going to have to scour the waiver wire on saturday and substitute the weak links at the bottom of this roster and bring in unpolished but higher upside refuse from other teams.

Potential Big Name Cuts pats should consider picking up:

1. Evan Neal, OG Giants
2. Darren Waller, TE
3. Emmanuel Ogbah, Edge
4. Mazi Smith, DT
5. Will Levis, QB
6. Jerry Tilllery, DT
7. Dameon Pearce, RB
8. Trevor Penning IOL

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Life just hits different during football season.

 

[mgteich]

Embarrassing. Yes its only pre season, but losinng 37-13 speaks to some problems with the roster make up.
No points in second half and giving up 37 points to third stringers.

Taylor Green >>>Behren Morton

Kyle Williams is a keeper

Edge and LB are huge problems and the fact that they were not dressed in free agency is on Vrabel and the Front Office. No fixes are coming in the door at this point. Pass rush is going to be a big problem m this year for the patriots.

Overall, it seems like the RB position is not going to be anything special

QB 3 Morton is a JAG. I think the Ptats could have done better than Devito and Morton. Obviously if Drake goes down, we could be looking at a 4 win team.

To improve depth Patriots are going to have to scour the waiver wire on saturday and substitute the weak links at the bottom of this roster and bring in unpolished but higher upside refuse from other teams.

Potential Big Name Cuts pats should consider picking up:

1. Evan Neal, OG Giants
2. Darren Waller, TE
3. Emmanuel Ogbah, Edge
4. Mazi Smith, DT
5. Will Levis, QB
6. Jerry Tilllery, DT
7. Dameon Pearce, RB
8. Trevor Penning IOL

Last year, we were able to get only Durden after the final cuts and claims. We were 4th, so claims meant something last year. I fear that it will take a draft pick or two over the weekend to get any help.

 

[mgteich]

QUESTION
How effective was Britt. our #3 ILB?

 

[BobDigital]

Thoughts. We cut our 3 back ups LBs last year, and brought in these guys. Yeah. That did not pay off. Front office fumbled that one. Any of the 3 we let walk would have been better than any of these guys.

The Pats need to force Williams on the field. They need to get him and Maye in Sync. The potential is too good. Maybe not push it week 1. But any chance they get and are up.... Pull Brown and Doubs, put Williams in.

CB4 is a concern now. What a difference one game can make! Personally I like Prunty long term. But for the first half of the year signing a guy wouldn't be unwise. Still hopeful here. We got to use to him being completely shut down his hiccups tonight stand out even more.

I still feel Larison is the best RB3 option. I will not let 1 incredibly catch he failed to make and 1 legit bad drop erase what he showed overall.

Young OTs development has been good so far. The rookies and second year players have all made strides. Keep them all. Good drafting and scouting here.

Pass rusher is such a question. We will see.

In the end for all the hang waging about the back ups it will come down to the health dnd performance of our stars and key starters. Just like any other team. Last year 2 of the healthiest good teams made it. Injuries and depth are concerns all around.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Last year, we were able to get only Durden after the final cuts and claims. We were 4th, so claims meant something last year. I fear that it will take a draft pick or two over the weekend to get any help.

At 31st on the waiver wire claims, we will have very slim pickings.

I doubt they will trade 2027 6th round picks for guys that don't make the 53. The 2027 draft is supposed to be fabulous. We need those late round picks if we want to build depth.

Crownover has looked better. Maybe they can trade Bryant for a LB? Or they plan to sign a veteran DT and LB a few days after cutdown so they can slide someone onto the PS? Do we have 10 guys worth keeping on the PS? LOL

 

[mgteich]

At 31st on the waiver wire claims, we will have very slim pickings.

I doubt they will trade 2027 6th round picks for guys that don't make the 53. The 2027 draft is supposed to be fabulous. We need those late round picks if we want to build depth.

Crownover has looked better. Maybe they can trade Bryant for a LB? Or they plan to sign a veteran DT and LB a few days after cutdown so they can slide someone onto the PS? Do we have 10 guys worth keeping on the PS? LOL

We could cut down to 45 and likely to be able to put them on out PS. The only position of caution is OL. They are hard to find and hard to develop. With a year of developmet, Bryant and Crownover may be our 2027 backup OT's. If that is reasonably possible, neither should be waived.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

With a year of developmet, Bryant and Crownover may be our 2027 backup OT's. If that is reasonably possible, neither should be waived.

Yup, I agree. Campbell and Lomu starting, and Bryant and Crownover backing up is a good setup for a few years to come.