The New England Patriots' 42-13 blowout win against the Carolina Panthers finally felt like the team living up to their potential under Mike Vrabel. Drake Maye played well, the defense was solid, and the special teams were excellent. More importantly, though, Patriots fans saw the rushing game take a step in the right direction.
Josh McDaniels loves using his running backs, which makes it even more surprising that TreVeyon Henderson wasn’t featured in the way Omarion Hampton has been with the Los Angeles Chargers or even Quinshon Judkins, his former Ohio State teammate, is with the Cleveland Browns over the opening three weeks of the season. Back in the day, even when Brady was under center, the Patriots loved to pound the ball on first and second downs to support their quarterback and make life easier. That is exactly the type of offense we saw against Carolina.
Patriots Waited Far Too Long to Lean on Henderson, Gibson
The Patriots learned the painful lesson against the Pittsburgh Steelers when Rhamondre Stevenson’s two costly fumbles against Pittsburgh torpedoed drives and killed momentum. Stevenson has long been a physical runner, but ball security has been an issue dating back to 2023. In an offense designed to protect a young quarterback like Drake Maye, mistakes like that are magnified.
Enter Henderson and Antonio Gibson. Both backs combine shiftiness, receiving ability, and speed that fit seamlessly into McDaniels’ preferred style. Their combined two-touchdown performance during Week 4 proved that they need to be featured more in the game plan, similar to how James White and Sony Michel were used in the Brady era.
The Added Dimension to the Rushing Game Helped Maye Thrive
Maye delivered one of his most efficient outings as a pro: 14-of-17, 203 passing yards, two touchdowns through the air, and another on the ground. He even broke out the Cam Newton Superman celebration after. But it wasn’t just the rookie quarterback who elevated the unit; it was the design of the offense. Gibson’s end-arounds and Henderson’s quick bursts out of the backfield gave the Panthers fits with rookie Will Campbell leading the way in the trenches. Suddenly, chunk plays came easily, Stefon Diggs had space to work downfield, and New England built a 28-6 halftime lead that only grew.
This is exactly how the offense was meant to function from the start: establish the run, use the backs in the short passing game, and then build play-action off of it to find receivers and tight ends wide open. By feeding the backs early, the Patriots opened up the field, allowing Hunter Henry to slip free for an easy touchdown catch from Maye to start the second half and, effectively, end any chances of a desperate comeback by the Panthers.
This Early-Season Issue Was Totally Avoidable
McDaniels’ history in New England is filled with memories of running backs who thrived as receiving threats. From Kevin Faulk to Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead to James White, the blueprint is there, and Henderson and Gibson both fit that same mold. Waiting until Week 4 to feature them not only wasted chances to build their confidence but may have also cost the Patriots a couple of wins.
New England's offense didn’t reinvent itself on Sunday. Instead, the Patriots finally leaned into a formula that's been in their DNA all along. Going away from Stevenson full-time is not the answer; he is essential as the bell cow, but mixing in the other backs as safety valves takes pressure off Maye and adds another layer of explosiveness to the offense.
With a showdown against the Buffalo Bills looming on Sunday Night Football, New England can’t afford to backslide into predictable play-calling. McDaniels needs to get creative to take out their undefeated division rival. Henderson and Gibson should be locked into at least 15 combined touches per game, with a minimum of two receiving targets each. Pair that with Diggs in the slot, Kayshon Boutte on the perimeter, and Maye’s emerging poise, and suddenly the Patriots’ offense looks dangerous.
The Patriots’ biggest early-season regret was failing to utilize their other two backs more effectively, but now that they’ve embraced the formula, hopefully the fix is here to stay. It’s on McDaniels and Vrabel to keep leaning into it and let this offense grow into its full potential.