Multiple players said after the game that it was the most energized they’ve seen the crowd all season.
“I thought it was amazing,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “I think it starts with our willingness to play to a style that our fans appreciate. We’ve talked about that since as long as I can remember, that if we play to a certain style, and they’ll embrace that, and they’ll cheer for us. I think that what we do here, from the stadium perspective, and the introductions and the fireworks and that’s all part of it. We’re in the entertainment business. We have to provide things for people to get excited about. So, I appreciate the way that our fans have been here. Appreciate the way that they’ve traveled. I can’t say enough about them.”The Patriots reintroduced individual player introductions for the first time since 2001, this season under Vrabel. Players like quarterback Drake Maye, wide receiver Stefon Diggs and left tackle Will Campbell drew huge reactions from the crowd before Sunday’s game. They kept the energy up for the rest of the 16-3 win.
Center Garrett Bradbury stood on the Patriots’ sideline and told his rookie teammates to soak it all in.
“The place was rocking, coming out, running out of the tunnel for the game was the most electric I’ve seen it here,” Bradbury said. “The fans were in it. Stands were full. We just kept saying on the sideline in the fourth quarter, and they’re playing those ACDC songs, like, ‘this is football.’ Like, ‘this is why you play.’
“I was trying to keep those rookies in the moment, like, ‘Guys, this is sick. Don’t take this for granted. Let’s go out and play some good football with our fans.’ It was a special night. It was fun. My rookie year was the only playoff win I’ve had — a veteran linebacker running off the field after we won, he’s like, ‘You don’t understand how of big a deal this is.’ And I didn’t. I was a rookie, and you just came in the league and you win, great. Hadn’t won a playoff game since then, so now I’m the veteran relaying to these guys, like, ‘Listen, you don’t know what we just did. Like, let’s keep it going. Let’s get another one, because it’s a big deal.’ And it’s like, you don’t want to look ahead, like you want to smell the roses, but you’re not satisfied. It’s all these kind of different things, but at the same time, I think you can appreciate what you’re doing and where you’re at, but to still be a little hungry for more.”
The Patriots will play at least one more playoff game at home next Sunday in the divisional round. If the Patriots advance, and if the Bills beat the Broncos, then then Gillette Stadium would also host the AFC Championship Game.
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