New England Patriots - NESN.com
A pair of rookies exploded for big plays in Week 10 for the New England Patriots as the Pats achieved a difficult 28-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road.
Rookie wideout Kyle Williams scored his first touchdown in style — a 72-yard TD reception to end the first quarter. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson was also sensational on Sunday. His 14 carries for 147 yards included two massive touchdown runs of 55 yards and 69 yards, respectively.
Following the Patriots win, former Pats three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty praised Williams and Henderson.
“Alright, if you don’t know it, the Pats are back,” McCourty said. “Big win today … the thing that shined all day today? TreVeyon Henderson, Kyle Williams. You can count on these rookies. They’re building confidence.”
McCourty then suggested that both Henderson and Williams will keep improving as the season goes on, which is, after all, a logical conclusion concerning two rookies.
“What do they say? Football starts after Thanksgiving.” McCourty said. “These two rookies might be playing their best ball after Thanksgiving.”
For all the excitement surrounding the Patriots right now — they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders — there’s also a sub-plot to all of their current success, which is how bright the future looks beyond this season (regardless of what happens between now and February, barring any major injuries).
With a 23-year-old MVP frontrunner at quarterback, the Pats also have a ton of young talent around Drake Maye to be thrilled about moving forward in the Mike Vrabel era. This is only the beginning, and Henderson and Williams are part of that equation, for sure.
