The New England Patriots sit atop the AFC East standings with an 8-2 record, thanks in large part to the emergence of quarterback Drake Maye as a legitimate MVP candidate.
But there’s been another storyline brewing in the background in recent weeks — one that could catapult the Patriots onto the shortlist of realistic Super Bowl contenders.
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson’s sudden emergence has ignited the Patriots’ run game, giving New England a more balanced approach on offense.
TreVeyon Henderson’s Breakout Could Turn Patriots Into Super Bowl Contenders
Head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have come under fire over the first two months of the season for the way they’ve handled their rookie running back. A second-round pick out of Ohio State, Henderson was considered a standout during training camp and the preseason but opened the regular season as the No. 3 running back on the Patriots depth chart.
Henderson’s usage has been under scrutiny nearly every week, especially after the problems Patriots running backs had taking care of the football early in the year. Starter Rhamondre Stevenson has averaged a career-low 3.4 yards per carry this season and lost three fumbles in the first five games. Meanwhile, backup Antonio Gibson also lost a fumble before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
And yet, when Stevenson was out due to a toe injury in Week 9, it was undrafted rookie Terrell Jennings who carried the ball across the goal line for his first career touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons. That game, Jennings had nearly as many carries (11) as Henderson (14), who started his first game of the season.
That all changed last week, as Henderson rushed for a career-high 147 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries. He became the first player in Patriots history to score two touchdowns of 50 yards or longer in the same game.
But part of the reason Henderson was entrusted with a larger role was because Jennings went down with a knee injury of his own, giving Vrabel and McDaniels no choice but to put the ball in Henderson’s hands.
Can Henderson Build On His Breakout Performance versus the Jets?
Henderson burst onto the scene in a Week 10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the 28-23 victory, Henderson put his game-changing speed and playmaking on full display with touchdown runs of 55 and 69 yards.
His patience between the tackles and elite speed gave the running game an explosive element it had been missing all season.
Prior to Week 10, the Patriots running backs ranked 27th out of 32 teams in yards per carry (3.76), according to SumerSports. Since Stevenson got hurt in Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns, Henderson has carried the ball 38 times for 277 yards, good for 7.3 yards per carry.
In an exclusive one-on-one interview with Patriots.com, Henderson revealed his biggest challenge in the NFL was learning to “control only what I can control”. His response showed maturity, but it also hinted at frustration with his limited opportunities early in the season.
Former Patriots safety and three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty praised Henderson’s performance last week, highlighting the growing confidence and momentum the rookie brings to the team.
Stevenson has once again been ruled out against the New York Jets, giving Henderson a chance to earn the lion’s share of the carries and build on his breakout performance. If the rookie can seize the starting running back role, he has the potential to significantly bolster the Patriots’ Super Bowl aspirations.
With the Patriots currently riding a seven-game winning streak and holding onto a slim two-game lead in the AFC East race, Henderson could become the X-factor that carries New England deep into the playoffs.
