Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Still Baffled by Late OPI Call on Stefon Diggs
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel remains frustrated and confused by a late offensive pass interference (OPI) penalty called on Stefon Diggs during Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints — a call that erased what looked to be a crucial fourth-quarter gain.
The controversial moment came with just over two minutes left in the game, when rookie quarterback Drake Maye connected with Diggs on a deep sideline pass that would have set the Patriots up in scoring position. The crowd at Gillette Stadium erupted as Diggs hauled in the throw and turned upfield, but celebration quickly turned to disbelief when an official threw a flag behind the play.
The ruling: offensive pass interference on Diggs. The explanation? According to officials, Diggs initiated contact while breaking into his route, impeding the defender’s ability to play the ball. But on replay, the contact appeared minimal — both players were hand-fighting, and Diggs seemed to be within the usual five-yard allowance.
Vrabel, clearly still irritated on Monday, told reporters he was “baffled” by the call and “still looking for an explanation that makes sense.” He added, “We teach our guys to be physical, to fight for space. If that’s offensive pass interference, then I’m not sure what’s left for receivers to do.”
The penalty nullified a 40-yard completion and stalled what could have been a game-sealing drive. Instead, New England was forced to punt, allowing the Saints one last possession before the Patriots defense held on for a narrow 25–19 victory.
NFL officiating later issued a brief clarification, stating the call was based on “clear restriction” by the offensive player, but the explanation did little to calm criticism from fans or analysts.
Despite the win, Vrabel’s frustration lingers. “You want consistency,” he said. “Our players deserve that. We’ll move on, but I’ll be honest — that one’s going to bother me for a while.”
The Patriots improved to 3–3, but the questionable call has reignited debate over how offensive pass interference is being interpreted in today’s NFL.
