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Mike Vrabel will look to block Sean Payton’s path to another Super Bowl when the New England Patriots play the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. New England’s road to Santa Clara runs through Mile High, and Vrabel must prepare his team for one of the NFL’s most accomplished head coaches. Payton will seek his 195th career win (playoffs included) on Sunday after improving the Broncos’ victory total in each of his three seasons since returning to the sideline. Vrabel commended Payton’s track record during Thursday’s press conference. “Very successful football coach,” Vrabel said. “Tough to defend for, tough to defend against. I think he does a great job with his personnel and his scheme. … Certainly how he’s using the weapons offensively in Denver. You have to prepare for a lot.” Vrabel noted that Payton has adapted his philosophies without abandoning his key principles since first coaching the New Orleans Saints 20 years ago. “I think he’s had his core concepts that he’s had for a lot of years, and then he’s just continued to add on to that as some of the game has changed and some of the ideas and the schemes have evolved,” Vrabel said. “So, I think that’s pretty unique.” Payton has dialed up some bold calls, most notably a successful onside kick to start the second half of Super Bowl XLIV. Vrabel doesn’t need to worry about that possibility, as NFL teams must now declare an onside kick beforehand, but he discussed preparing for any other tricks up his opponent’s sleeve. “Certainly the timing of when he’s called some of those things has been impressive,” Vrabel said. “And then, again, when you call those, it’s up to the players to make them work. They’ve done a good job of making those plays work, but the timing in which some of those things have been called has been good.” The Patriots are a heavy road favorite to beat the Broncos because of Bo Nix’s season-ending ankle injury suffered last weekend. However, Vrabel isn’t discounting Payton and the AFC West champions. “His record clearly speaks for itself,” Vrabel stated. ‘Tough challenge. He’s a proven winner in this league.” More NFL: Patriots Mike Vrabel Wins Prestigious End Of Season Award

Football fans that haven’t been living under a rock for the past few months are well aware the New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is one of the top contenders for the NFL MVP award. That was made official on Thursday. But which of Maye’s teammates also cracked ESPN’s list of the “Top 100 real NFL MVP candidates” for the 2025 season? Analytics writer Seth Walder placed the signal-caller at the top of list on Thursday but included a trio of other Patriots on the countdown as well. Somewhat surprisingly, New England doesn’t have another player in the top 74, as defensive tackle Milton Williams is the next Patriots representative on the list at No. 75. “I was among the skeptics when the Patriots handed Williams a $26 million per year contract last offseason, but he was worth every penny in his first season in New England,” Walder wrote. “He was third in pressure rate among interior linemen (9.6%) and would have been sixth at pass rush win rate and 10th in run stop win rate had he qualified. His availability (only 12 games played) was the only thing holding him back. A full season playing at this level would have vaulted Williams much higher on this list.” Williams finished the regular season tied for second on the team in tackles for loss (eight) and fourth in quarterback hits (eight) and sacks (3.5). He’s added five tackles and 2.0 sacks across the first two playoff contests. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs came in at No. 93 on the list, while offensive lineman Michael Onwenu was No. 99. Diggs finished his first regular season with New England by leading the group in targets (102), receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,013). Onwenu has played in and started each of the Patriots first 19 games this season, including both playoff tilts. More NFL: Cam Newton Calls Patriots’ Super Bowl Path ‘Joke,’ But His Was Easier

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford are both MVP finalists, but only one can win the award. Stafford seems to have the edge for the official NFL MVP Award. He was named the First-Team All-Pro quarterback by the Associated Press, making it very likely that he will win the award. However, the race is not so cut and dry. ESPN’s Seth Walder ranked 100 players for his “real” MVP Award, taking into account more than just traditional factors. “To evaluate players, I rely on a variety of sources — statistics and quantitative metrics, awards such as the All-Pro team, and feedback from NFL front office personnel and colleagues at ESPN,” wrote Walder on Thursday. “One of my favorite parts about football is that player evaluation is far from a settled science. Every season, including this one, someone I trust in the league will tell me I have a player ranked far too high and another person who I have similar trust in will tell me that same player is ranked far too low. “In this exercise, we are measuring player value relative to average at respective positions. So we will almost certainly have quarterbacks at the very top — it is the highest leverage position — but also cannot have more than 16 on the list.” Maye topped Walder’s rankings, with Stafford in third place. Dak Prescott was No. 2 on the rankings. Walder noted that Stafford’s accuracy numbers did not stack up to Maye and Prescott’s, hence his third-place finish in the rankings. “Maye might not be the NFL MVP when it is announced Feb. 5 … but he should be,” wrote Walder. “And while it was a close race throughout the season, I don’t think it was really that close at the end. Maye finished as the NFL’s QBR leader by a healthy margin, with his 77.2 being well ahead of the next-highest finisher (Jordan Love at 72.9). And because QBR already adjusts for opponent quality, Maye’s big lead takes into account the Patriots’ easy strength of schedule. “How did Maye pull it off? Mainly with accuracy and a big helping of explosive plays. Maye led QBR-qualifying quarterbacks in yards per dropback (7.7), adjusted completion percentage (78.8%) and completion percentage over expectation (plus-9%). That last number represents the best CPOE season by any quarterback in the NFL Next Gen Stats era (since 2016). Maye recorded 54 plays that generated at least two expected points added, tied for the second most in the NFL. And his 8.7 air yards per attempt was third highest, and he threw to the sticks or farther on 47% of his attempts (fourth highest).” Walder went on to note that Maye achieved all he did this season in a tougher situation than Stafford. Stafford is throwing the ball to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams with Kyren Williams in the backfield. The Patriots’ weapons are great, but they do not stack up to the two All-Pro wide receivers and Pro Bowl running back the Rams have. Walder’s rankings will most likely not align with how the MVP race actually shakes out. All indications are that voters will name Stafford the NFL MVP, and Maye will be the runner-up. However, the two could face off in the Super Bowl, and both would much rather win that than the award anyway. More Patriots: Cam Newton Calls Patriots’ Super Bowl Path ‘Joke,’ But His Was Easier

New England Patriots players believe Drake Maye can lead them to glory. The 23-year-old quarterback has taken massive strides as an MVP finalist in his second season. Maye can steer New England back to the Super Bowl with an AFC Championship Game win over the Denver Broncos this Sunday. Some teammates feel Maye is ready for the moment. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe shared comments from DeMario “Pop” Douglas lauding Maye’s demeanor at the end of last Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round victory. “Pop Douglas, the receiver, told me Drake Maye was cool, calm, unrattled,” Wolfe said. “And they really got an unshakeable energy on the last drive this past week through their quarterback. And he said, ‘That’s the biggest jump he’s made in Year 2. He was trying in Year 1, but he wasn’t quite knowing how to lead every guy in the locker room.'” Douglas noted that Maye caters his communication approach to each player to get the most out of everyone. “‘He treats every guy in a different frequency. He won’t yell at Stefon Diggs the way he yells at me, but that’s my preferred style. I want you to get on me,'” Wolfe recalled Douglas saying. Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel, Other Patriots Among NFL Awards Finalists by Keagan Stiefel 2 Min Read Patriots’ Drake Maye On What He Must Do To Protect Ball Against Broncos by Daniel Fisher 2 Min Read Patriots’ QB Drake Maye Reveals Challenges Of Using Silent Count Against Broncos by Cole Shelton 3 Min Read Milton Williams won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. The defensive tackle watched Jalen Hurts take home the Big Game’s MVP award, and he expressed confidence in Maye’s ability to do the same. “‘Drake is hungry. I definitely think he has what it takes to be a Super Bowl MVP-type quarterback,'” Wolfe recalled Williams saying. “So, they think they have an advantage at quarterback here. A guy that’s ready to lead them into the moment.” The AFC Championship Game starts Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS. More NFL: Colin Cowherd Ranks Patriots’ Drake Maye As No. 3 Player In AFC Championship Game

Now that we’re eight-plus weeks into the MLB offseason, a lot of free agency action has come and gone. The most recent move was Cody Bellinger re-signing with the New York Yankees. If you’re wondering who the best remaining free agents are, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand got you covered. On Wednesday, Feinsand listed who he feels are the top six remaining free agents, with former Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito factoring into the list, alongside Framber Valdez, Eugenio Suarez, Luis Arraez, Zac Gallen, and Chris Bassitt. With Bellinger headed back to the Yankees, the top remaining free agents are LHP Framber Valdez, 3B Eugenio Suarez, INF Luis Arráez, RHP Zac Gallen, RHP Chris Bassitt and RHP Lucas Giolito.— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 21, 2026 Giolito’s 2025 season with the Red Sox marked a strong return after missing 2024 due to elbow surgery. The right-hander posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA over 26 starts, logging 145 innings while striking out 121 batters and maintaining a 1.29 WHIP. Despite elbow soreness cutting his year short in late September, he was cleared of major damage. Over his nine-year MLB career, Giolito has compiled a 71-66 record with a 4.30 ERA across 206 games (204 starts), amassing 1,198 strikeouts in 1,158 2/3 innings. Drafted No. 16 overall by the Washington Nationals in 2012, he debuted in 2016 before thriving with the Chicago White Sox, earning an All-Star nod in 2019 and tossing a no-hitter in 2020. Stints with the Angels and Guardians in 2023 preceded his Red Sox tenure. More MLB: Jon Heyman Ties Red Sox To Three Different Infield Trade Targets