In Week 7, the New England Patriots made it three straight wins, beating the Tennessee Titans 31-13. This game was Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel's first game against his former team. Drake Maye once again looked great, continuing his strong sophomore season. Maye made Patriots history today, setting the Patriots' single-game completion percentage with a 91.3% rating.
The most encouraging signs from this game were the Patriots' ability to run the ball. Against the Titans, the Patriots ran for 175 yards as a team, with Rhamondre Stevenson accounting for 88 on 18 attempts. Even though the Patriots ran the ball well, TreVeyon Henderson only saw two carries for five yards and saw only nine snaps. While some fans might worry, this might not be as negative as it seems.
Patriots Don't Need to Force the Issue With Henderson
Running the ball has easily been the weakest aspect of the Patriots' offense this season, so it was encouraging to see them run with ease against Tennessee. Stevenson especially needed this following a rough week against the New Orleans Saints. If Stevenson can keep up the play and eliminate the fumbles, he can be a valuable asset to the Patriots' offense. Another benefit of Stevenson succeeding is that Henderson can have a more defined role.
Heading into Week 7, it didn't seem like Henderson was in for a big game. Fans might be frustrated by this, but it could be good for Henderson. Given the coaching staff's reluctance to give the rookie more snaps, Stevenson's improvement means Henderson won't be thrust into a role that he's not ready for.
When Stevenson is struggling, you have to try other options, forcing Henderson into the game when he isn't fully ready for a lead-back role. But if Stevenson is playing well, you can use Henderson appropriately without throwing him into the fire. Henderson still has some improving to do, so with Stevenson playing well, he can have less pressure on him since he doesn't have to take on too big a role in the offense.
As we advance, if Stevenson continues his play from Week 7, we might not get that many looks at Henderson. Some might be upset since they want to see Henderson have a bigger role, but for his long-term potential, it could be the best-case scenario by letting him learn the offense without any unnecessary pressure. Up next for the Patriots, after three straight road games, they return home for Week 8 when they host the 2-5 Cleveland Browns.