The New England Patriots couldn’t have asked for a better start to Mike Vrabel’s head coaching tenure.

After two straight four-win seasons, Vrabel has the 7-2 Patriots sitting atop the AFC East. They can match their combined victory total over the last two years with a Week 10 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Another big road win could also put Vrabel in the driver’s seat to capture a significant award. ESPN’s Matt Miller predicted that the former Patriots linebacker will win Coach of the Year.

“In his first season as head coach of the team that made him a household name as a player, Vrabel has the Patriots competing for an AFC East title despite still developing a young roster that’s led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye,” Miller wrote. “As the top team in its division with

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