The day after the Patriots’ 13-10 season-opening loss to the Seahawks, I was making my weekly appearance on the “Toucher & Hardy” morning show on 98.5 The Sports Hub when hosts Fred Toucher, Rob “Hardy” Poole and Jon Wallach asked the question, “Was this the worst loss of Mike Vrabel’s tenure as coach?”
My first reaction, on a couple hours sleep at 4:25 a.m. PT in Seattle, was that there are only five to choose from.
There was the 2025 season-opening defeat at home to the Las Vegas Raiders that I didn’t see coming. Then a five-turnover setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks after that. In December, the Patriots blew a 24-7 halftime lead at home to lose to the Buffalo Bills. And then, of course, there was the Super Bowl LX loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
In real time, I said it was hard for me to say decisively that the 2026 season opener was the worst loss of Vrabel’s tenure but I could see why someone might make a case for it.
Now, with some time to process it and having reviewed the game, I would say no.
I’m going with the Bills game.