The vibes surrounding the New England Patriots are at their highest since Tom Brady’s glory days following a thrilling 23-20 upset win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Quarterback Drake Maye and wideout Stefon Diggs turned in instant-classic performances, but neither found the end zone. Instead, it was running back Rhamondre Stevenson who punched in two touchdowns to power New England’s win.
Lost in the celebration, however, is a lingering problem: Stevenson’s ball security. The Patriots’ lead RB fumbled yet again, just two weeks after coughing it up twice against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He now has 10 fumbles since the start of the 2024 season, as well as 17 in 61 career games.
It briefly looked like Stevenson’s night might end early when he went to the bench, but an injury to backup Antonio Gibson forced him back into action. Still, his turnover-related issues are too much to ignore.
The Patriots survived the mistake in Week 5, but they can’t keep living with Stevenson’s ball-security struggles or the run game’s ineptitude.
Patriots Can't Ignore Pressing Backfield Concerns
Stevenson’s fumbling problem is a recurring theme now, and defenses are well-aware of it.
His latest miscue came on the first play of New England’s second drive against Buffalo, forcing offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to alter his game plan. The Bills are among the league’s weakest run defenses, yet the Patriots couldn’t take advantage due to their lack of trust in Stevenson.
It’s becoming clear that opposing defenses are targeting Stevenson with the specific intent of forcing fumbles.
Following the Patriots’ Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh, Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward openly admitted as much, according to Pro Football Talk:
"“We were aware every time he was in the game… We were really locked in on this is a group that turns the ball over.”"Cameron Heyward
The pattern in Stevenson’s struggles is that he often loosens his grip while falling to the ground, allowing defenders to punch the ball free. That’s exactly what happened again Sunday night, when linebacker Shaq Thompson jarred the ball out just before Stevenson hit the turf.
Even more concerning is the fact that Stevenson seemed to be bracing for contact rather than initiating it—a stark contrast to the physical runner who once thrived on yards after contact.
The Patriots’ Run Game Is Stagnant
On top of Stevenson’s ball security woes, the Patriots’ ground game simply isn’t producing.
Through five weeks, New England ranks 27th in rushing yards per game (95.2), 28th in yards per rush attempt (3.7), 32nd in EPA per rush, and 31st in rushing success rate, according to RBSDM. The loss of Gibson to a torn ACL only makes matters worse.
There was hope that rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson could provide a spark, but that hasn’t materialized. He’s averaging just 3.8 yards per carry and continues to struggle in pass protection.
What makes the run-game struggles even more puzzling is that the offensive line ranks sixth in run block win rate, per ESPN. The film doesn’t always match that number, but it suggests New England’s backs should be producing more than they are.
The reality is, even with Stevenson’s struggles, there isn’t enough help from the rest of the running back room to justify parting ways with him—at least not to release him for zero return.
Where Do the Patriots Go From Here?
At 3-2, New England remains firmly in playoff contention with a favorable schedule ahead. Maye, Diggs, and an improving defense have carried the team so far, but the Patriots can’t afford to become one-dimensional. For as impressive as Maye has been, asking him to carry the entire offense is risky business for a second-year quarterback.
Whether it’s Stevenson finally cleaning up his fumbles, Henderson taking a step forward, or the front office acquiring help via trade, fixing the run game must be one of the Patriots’ top priorities moving forward, and a pair of TDs can't blind them from that fact.