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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel got a little more than he bargained for when he celebrated with defensive lineman Milton Williams on Sunday night.
Vrabel got a bear hug after the Patriots’ defense stopped the Los Angeles Chargers on their final drive to seal the 16-3 win. Williams clipped Vrabel with his face mask. The coach was seen bleeding from the lips as he walked around to his other happy team members.
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks at a news conference after an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
“We talked to them about being willing to spill some blood out there, the big dogs coming out in January,” Vrabel told reporters after the game. “I think Milt took it the way he played the game, the way he finished the game. He came and got me pretty good. That’s what happens.”
The Chargers were 1-for-10 on third downs and 1-for-3 on fourth downs during the game. The defense forced a fumble and sacked Justin Herbert six times.
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New England Patriots defensive end Milton Williams (97) celebrates a sack in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 11, 2026. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)
Williams had two of the six sacks on Herbert.
“Man, I was just flipped,” Williams said during his moment with Vrabel. “It’s just pure emotion. I think I hit everyone’s head, but I forgot that Vrabes has no helmet on. He’ll be fine though.”
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel on the sideline during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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The Patriots will face the winner of the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round. This is the first time New England is playing in the divisional round since they won the Super Bowl in the 2018 season with Bill Belichick as head coach and Tom Brady as quarterback.
