How Vederian Lowe and Ben Brown’s bond helps ‘next man up’ mentality

FOXBOROUGH — All season long, Mike Vrabel has made it clear that each and every player should be preparing as if they are the starter.

While the New England Patriots have been fairly lucky on the injury front, the wear and tear of an NFL season is certainly starting to show as the team is without some key players. Specifically, starting left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson sustained injuries in the team's win over the Cincinnati Bengals. As a result, Campbell was placed on injured reserve, while Wilson is sidelined indefinitely.

So with that, it was Vederian Lowe and Ben Brown who slotted in on the left side at tackle and guard, respectively. And the two stepped up to the plate, handing a talented Giants defensive front well, giving Drake Maye and the running backs time to make plays.

After the game, Patriots Wire spoke exclusively with the two offensive lineman about what allowed them to have success despite not having a lot of time to prepare. And both were quick to credit their close bond.

"Me and Ben, we sit next to each other every day," Lowe said. "We talk all the time, and we knew if we just communication and we just do what we've been doing since camp and everything that's got us here, we'd be fine."

Brown echoed Lowe's sentiments, adding that the history the two have of playing together last year was also a major factor.

"Felt fully prepared and confident playing right beside Vederian," Brown said. " We had history playing together last year, so I have the utmost confidence in him."

"We've been friends since last year, and we both know how each other plays," he added. "He's been a lot of fun, and he's a competitor, and I felt like we did a great job communicating tonight. I think that was a big thing for us, focusing and leaning on each other, and I thought we did a good job with that."

However, the bond also extends across the entire offensive line room.

"We all, we try to get to know each other very well off the field, just getting together, we're constantly always hanging out, we're constantly always talking," Lowe explained. "I build a lot of great relationships with the guys outside of football, and all that does is help build the chemistry."

It was this close bond, along with that next man up mentality, that allowed them both to succeed.

"You never know what will happen in a game," Brown said. "The season's a long season, and it's my job to be prepared every single week for whatever role that might be. And I just love this football team, I love our head coach, I love everyone in this building, and I don't want to let anyone down."

As for Lowe, he truly took Vrabel's message to heart.

"I just looked at it as an opportunity. I think that I've always, I've been in this league, it's my fourth year," he said. "I understand how things work. I never once was not ready if that opportunity ever came. And that last game, just knowing that it's time to step up, it's next man up, prepare as a starter, as Vrabes always says. And this week, knowing I had full preparation, knowing I had the opportunity to go out there and put a full game together, I was just very excited."

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: How Vederian Lowe and Ben Brown’s bond helps ‘next man up’ mentality