Patriots’ Vrabel Makes Admission on Struggling Run Game

It might seem to be nit-picking, on the morning when the Patriots wake up as leaders of the AFC East thanks to Monday night’s loss to Atlanta, to point out that there is an aspect of the team’s offense that has been downright awful. But there’s no hiding from the fact, particularly after the win over the Saints in Week 6, that the Patriots just can’t run the ball.

The ground wasn’t great in the Week 5 win over Buffalo, totaling 71 yards on 22 carries. It was worse in Week 6 against the Saints, with 73 yards on 31 carries, an anemic 2.4 yards per carry. New England rated 29th in the NFL now with 3.5 yards per carry on average.

What’s astonishing about it all is that the Patriots have become such a vastly improved group at the line when it comes to pass protection–but their run blocking has been atrocious, and their running backs have struggled.

Mike Vrabel: ‘We’ve Had Some Pitiful’ Runs

Coach Mike Vrabel wants to run the ball, of course. But he had a blunt assessment on some of the Patriots‘ attempts on Sunday, calling them, “pitiful.”

“We’ll keep working,” he said. “We’ve had some good runs, we’ve had some pitiful ones, too.

“We just have to make sure that there’s a consistency, that we’re coaching the details, that we’re coaching the demeanor, understand that it’s going to be some dirty runs in there and that we’re going to have to make a guy miss or break a tackle, things that we’ve done throughout the season, and be able to do all those while taking care of the football and trying to move the line of scrimmage. Probably wished we had some more production in the run game there at the end.”

Patriots Offensive Line Struggling in Run Game

The Patriots lost backup running back Antonio Gibson to an ACL tear in Week 5, and that didn’t help the situation in Week 6. But the fact is, the run game struggled with and without Gibson. The team needs either an upgrade at the position with a trade or addition, or a revamp of the run-blocking schemes. Or both.

The Patriots running backs share a strange distinction through six weeks. At Pro Football Focus, lead back Rhamondre Stevenson ranks 47th out of 48 running backs in the league, with a grade of 53.1.  The only back worse? TreVeyon Henderson, the Patriots No. 2 back, with a grade of 52.6.

The Patriots‘ offensive line gets a 54.1 run-blocking grade, sixth-worst in the NFL. On the flip side, the line gets a 69.5 pass-blocking grade, fourth-best in the league. Obviously, the team values protecting star quarterback Drake Maye over all else, so the dichotomy there makes sense. But they need to shrink the gap.

Patriots Focused on Ball Protection

Vrabel was asked whether the fact that Patriots backs have lost four fumbles this season has played a role in the run game’s struggles–that the backs are hyper-focused on not losing the ball and give up yardage in favor of ball protection.

He conceded there might be some of that.

But, Vrabel said, “I think there’s a balance there. We’ve talked about that. I know when we don’t turn it over, we’ve won those three games, so there’s certainly a balance there, and we have to give them a good plan, we have to block and execute that, block support, and then we have to run, make people miss and break tackles.

“We’ll work hard at that, but in the same sense, I’m proud of the improvements that we’ve made protecting our quarterback, protecting Drake [Maye], and we’ll just have to continue to strike a good balance there with running the football.”

Seahawks Safety Coby Bryant Thanks Mike Macdonald for Calling Him Out

Following some missed tackles a week ago, Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant was called out in a team meeting and he said he is grateful for that.

ESPN’s Brady Henderson reported Sunday that Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald called out Bryant in a team meeting on Monday, saying he expected better tackling from his best players.

Bryant went on miss zero tackles in Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and had a team-high Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 86.9.

“That’s what we need, honesty,” Bryant said of being called out. “It was much needed, and I’m thankful for that.”

Mike Macdonald called out Coby Bryant in a team meeting last Monday, expecting better tackling from one of his best players.

Message received, by Bryant and the rest of the defense.

“That’s what we need, honesty,” Bryant said. “It was much needed, and I’m thankful for that.”

Seattle Defense Dominated Against Jaguars

Bryant recorded seven tackles, including two for loss, helping lead a stout Seattle defense that limited Jacksonville to just 12 points.

Despite a depleted secondary and multiple injuries in the front seven, Seattle’s defense turned in a dominant performance—recording seven sacks, stifling the Jaguars’ rushing attack, and reaffirming its status as one of the league’s top defensive units.

The front four, anchored by DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Murphy II, controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the game, consistently collapsing the pocket and keeping Trevor Lawrence under duress.

Murphy, who notched just half a sack as a rookie last season, has already tallied 4.5 through six games, while Lawrence continues to set the tone up front in his first year following a decade in Dallas.

The impact was clear: Jacksonville mustered only 59 rushing yards on 19 carries, with standout back Travis Etienne Jr. limited to 27 yards on 12 attempts.

GettyJACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Mike MacDonald of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the game at EverBank Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

Mike Macdonald Brings Forward Stealthy Defense Despite Injuries

Through six weeks, the Seahawks boast one of the NFL’s stingiest run defenses, ranking second in rushing yards allowed per game (79) and fourth overall in total rushing yards allowed (474), trailing only Houston, Atlanta, and Green Bay.

Seattle also sits inside the top 10 in scoring defense, surrendering just 19.5 points per game—nearly identical to the marks posted by Minnesota and Indianapolis.

That blend of balance and physicality is exactly what the Seahawks envisioned when they hired Mike Macdonald last winter. The former Ravens defensive coordinator arrived with a proven scheme built on hybrid fronts and disguised pressures, and it’s now beginning to take full effect.

Despite a wave of injuries across all three levels of the defense—Devin Witherspoon (knee), Riq Woolen (concussion), and Julian Love (hamstring) among them, with veterans Derick Hall, Johnathan Hankins, and Rylie Mills still sidelined—the unit hasn’t wavered. Depth contributors like Ty Okada, Coby Bryant, and Josh Jobe have stepped in seamlessly, preserving Seattle’s defensive identity.

Resilience has become the defining trait of Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks — and his defense exemplifies it each week. Despite ongoing roster turnover, Seattle continues to control the tempo, dominate the line of scrimmage, and shut down opposing run games.

Once the secondary returns to full strength, Macdonald’s unit has the potential to stand among the NFC’s elite. At 4–2, the Seahawks’ ceiling keeps climbing — and their defense is leading the way.

Next week, Seattle hosts the Houston Texans on “Monday Night Football,” Oct. 20.

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