Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots’ running game has quietly begun to build some momentum. After gaining 177 non-kneel-down yards in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, the unit finished its Week 8 contest versus the Cleveland Browns with a season-best 180 yards on the ground.
A significant portion of that yardage was produced by TreVeyon Henderson. The second-round rookie had the most productive day of his young career, finishing with 75 yards on 10 carries.
He did so in just 14 offensive snaps.
“I have definitely been getting more comfortable this season,” Henderson said after the game. “Getting more reps, getting more opportunities, different looks, going up against different players.”
The Patriots used Henderson’s speed and quick accelerator to stress the Browns’ top-ranked run defense horizontally. The plan worked, with the 23-year-old gaining 63 yards on nine off-tackle runs primarily to the offense’s right.
For as promising as the showing was, it was not perfect. Henderson’s final touch of the day resulted in disaster: in the fourth quarter, he lost the ball on a carry near the Browns’ goal line for a turnover. It left a sour taste in his mouth after what was otherwise a stellar game.
“It is tough,” Henderson admitted. “It is a learning lesson for me, definitely. It is tough to go out like that, but that is something that we have been harping on all season, just taking care of the ball. So, that is something we have got to continue to work on.”
Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 32-13 victory at Gillette Stadium.
Total snaps: 68 | Time on the field: 35:24 | *denotes starter
QB Drake Maye* (68; 100%), LT Will Campbell* (68; 100%), LG Jared Wilson* (68; 100%), C Garrett Bradbury* (68; 100%), RG Mike Onwenu* (68; 100%), RT Morgan Moses* (68; 100%), TE Hunter Henry* (52; 76%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson* (50; 74%), WR Kayshon Boutte (50; 74%), WR Mack Hollins* (49; 72%), TE Austin Hooper* (39; 57%), WR Stefon Diggs* (35; 51%), FB/TE Jack Westover (17; 25%), WR Kyle Williams (15; 22%), RB TreVeyon Henderson (14; 21%), WR DeMario Douglas (14; 21%), RB Terrell Jennings (5; 7%)
While fellow running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings played only 21% and 7% of snaps against the Browns, respectively, Rhamondre Stevenson hoarded opportunities at the position: the veteran was on the field for 74% of snaps even though his output of just 34 yards on 14 carries did not come close to that of his young teammate.
At wide receiver, meanwhile, the Patriots relied mostly on their typical top three of Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs. The No. 4 spot, meanwhile, saw a change — at least as presented above. Kyle Williams was on the field for one more snap than DeMario Douglas (even though the latter finished with an actual catch of 44 yards). However, we need to add context to their playing time: three of Williams’ snaps came on end-of-game kneel-downs when...
