The New England Patriots won a hard-fought AFC Championship Game on Sunday, defeating the Denver Broncos 17-10 in a game played in the snow and cold.
That earned New England another trip to the Super Bowl, albeit with a much different roster than during their previous dynasty’s runs. Among them is veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who joined the Patriots’ roster after playing multiple seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills.
Diggs displayed a variety of emotions before and after the massive playoff game, from fired up in his pregame moments to emotional and teary-eyed after his team captured the victory.
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Diggs’ postgame remarks were particularly emotional and telling, as he celebrated having Mike Vrabel as his latest coach in the NFL. In fact, he gave Vrabel quite the endorsement after the team reached the Super Bowl.
“Means a lot,” he said regarding the win, adding, “Considering the circumstances, I’m just really happy to be a part of this team, around this group of guys, I got this, and coaching staff, and this organization, just means a lot.”
Diggs described his team as “resilient” for how they played throughout the season and in the postseason.
“We lost to the Steelers, and nobody believed in us, let alone like us. Our coach believed in us, helped us build this identity. He held everybody to the same standard…hopefully he wins coach of the year, he’s probably the best coach I ever had,” Diggs said at the postgame press conference.
Diggs has spent 11 seasons in the league, and his latest has been his most successful, as he has a chance to become a Super Bowl champion finally. The Patriots are also his fourth team, as he spent 2024 with the Houston Texans before arriving in New England.
“I feel short so many times. I can’t say anything but perfect timing right now,” Diggs told reporters of his situation.
During the AFC Championship postgame celebration, CBS’s crew asked Vrabel how he felt about possibly becoming the first in NFL history to win the Super Bowl as both a player and coach. Vrabel humbly indicated that if that happened, the players would be the ones who won the game.
Vrabel’s Patriots take on either the Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8, in Santa Clara, California.
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