Callahan: Patriots are getting in their own way under Mike Vrabel

FOXBORO – By Monday afternoon, Mike Vrabel’s assistants will have parsed through every play.

They will have mined the film of Sunday’s loss, hunting for every insight and competitive edge; sacrificing sleep and sanity along the way, all in the pursuit of victory.

Let’s save them some time.

The truth of that tape is this: the Patriots beat themselves.

Again.

Five turnovers, including two on the doorstep of the end zone. Six first-half penalties, including two that resuscitated Steelers touchdown drives. And another home loss drenched in regret.

Granted, this is a young team. A new team. But everybody inside and outside of the Patriots’ facility knows turnovers are a price they cannot pay if they want to bank enough early-season wins for a run at the playoffs.

Sunday should have been