Drake May and Mike Vrabel have the same message after the Patriots secured a playoff bid

The The New England Patriots are going to the playoffsofficially clinched their spot in the postseason after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 28-24 on Sunday night. But for Drake Maia and Mike Vrabelthey set their eyes on something bigger.

May and Vrabel both said they wanted to win the AFC East after Sunday’s win.

“That’s still what we’re fighting for,” May he told reporters on Sunday. “It’s nice to be in the playoffs, but we still want to win the division.”

“We’re going to try to win the division,” Vrabel he added in his comments journalists. “We’re going to focus on that. Just take it one day at a time, or whatever happens. We’re going to figure out what’s the best thing for the team, and I’m excited. It’s all down to the players. When we win, it’s because of them.”

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Unlike last week, the Patriots were unable to secure the division title this weekend. The Buffalo Bills are hot on their heels, improved to 11-4 with a win over the Cleveland Browns. But at 12-3, the Patriots can clinch the AFC East next weekend. If they beat the New York Jets and the Bills lose to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Patriots will be the division champions for the first time since 2019. New England can also win the division if they win or if Buffalo loses its last two games.

Drake May credits Mike Vrabel with Patriots win and turnaround

Sunday’s win over the Ravens was a much-needed victory for the Patriots. They took a 21-0 lead against the Bills last weekand while they would still be in first place in the AFC East with a loss, the Patriots’ path to the AFC’s top seed would shrink even further.

Now, the Patriots may have a chance to clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed with the Jets and Miami Dolphins on their schedule over the final two weeks of the season. If they win and the Denver Broncos lose just once, the Patriots would secure first place in the AFC.

For now, though, the Patriots are soaking up the win, and Maye pointed to the head coach as the main reason for that despite making his best MVP case yet.

“I think it’s top down,” May said. “Coach Vrabel is coming here. It’s the coaching staff he’s hired. It’s guys who buy in and believe in what we’re doing. That’s the biggest thing (in) the locker room. It’s believing in what coach says. It’s believing in our identity. Carry it. Carry it. We always travel, ‘So with him.’

“Just another big win on the road and it starts from the top down. The guys — we just love a lot of guys in that locker room, man. I’m going to talk to a lot of those guys probably for a long time in my life.”

May threw for over 300 yards for the first time in his career on Sunday, finishing with 380 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also led the Patriots to an 11-point fourth-quarter victory. But as Maie sits right in the MVP mix, he still credits his head coach for the team’s dramatic turnaround.

“You take it for granted, man,” May said. “You take it for granted. What a beautiful sport. The best sport in the world. This game is brutal. There are moments with injuries and losses that weigh on you, but this winning feeling, there’s nothing like it. The coach reminded us of that overplay. He said, ‘You can’t take that back, winning in that locker room.’ At his age, he always says, ‘I wish I could dress up again.’ You just can’t buy that. He said, ‘You can buy anything else in life, but you can’t buy this road we’re in right now.’ And what a weather it is.”

Now, Maye and the Patriots will look to complete their stellar turnaround by winning their final two games as they hope to clinch the AFC East.