After leading the NFL in lost fumbles in 2024, you can understand why Patriots (5-2) fans wanted Rhamondre Stevenson benched after Week 3.
With two fumbles in that contest, including one at the goal line that cost New England their second win on the season, enough was enough.
But nevertheless, head coach Mike Vrabel stuck by his guy. Stevenson stayed in the lineup, and no changes were made heading into Week 4 against the Panthers.
Fast forward two weeks, and Stevenson was yet again losing a fumble against a good team. This time, it was against the Bills (4-2) on a play where Stevenson had ran for the first down and was falling to the ground. It was the type of fumble that makes you want to rip your hair out, especially when the margin is so thin against one of the best teams in the NFL. Had he been benched after that, not a single Patriots fan would have batted an eye.
But nevertheless, head coach Mike Vrabel stuck by his guy. Stevenson stayed in the lineup, and accounted for 2 touchdowns in New England’s 23-20 upset victory at Highmark Stadium.
“I think Rhamondre understands how critical the ball is, but we've got to start putting that fire out and making sure that until we're back in the huddle that that ball remains in our possession, whether we're going down or we're close to the ground,” Vrabel told The Greg Hill Show the morning after that win in Buffalo.
He was sticking by his guy, but the message was being sent loud and clear behind the scenes on ball security.
Two weeks later, Stevenson remains in the backfield for the Patriots as their starting running back. No fumbles since Buffalo (knock on wood), and he appears to be getting better as the season rolls along.
Even with the Patriots in the midst of a 23-game streak of not having a 100-yard rusher, Stevenson’s game on Sunday against the Titans is one that he can still be proud of:
88 rushing yards and a touchdown, good for 4.9 yards a carry and helping to set the tone for the day in Nashville.
We’re seven games into the season, and one thing you’re not hearing anymore is the calls for Stevenson’s job. You’re not hearing fans call for TreVeyon Henderson to take on that starting role, either, like you were seeing and hearing online after his electric preseason.
Vrabel stuck by his guy, and his team is now reaping the benefits.
“What did you see in Rhamondre that a lot of people that were watching the games at home didn't see?” WEEI’s Courtney Cox asked Vrabel on Monday's The Greg Hill Show after his team’s 31-13 win against the Titans.
“Well, it's just the whole entire body work,” said Vrabel. “All our backs are going to play. TreVeyon’s going to have a role, and Terrell [Jennings] is going to have a role. And Rhamondre - he’s a very good pass protector. And again, there's the whole body of work.
“We got to take care of the football. But, he also did a lot of really good things early in the season against Miami. And there'll be a time where they're calling for my job, and they're calling for everybody's job. That's just how this business works. And I didn't want to jerk the wheel. But also, there was a lot of conversations about what our ball carriers and our receivers and everybody that has the football, how they have to take care of it, or that we have to make some other decisions.
“You look at last week, at the end of the game. He steps up, he blocks the inside linebacker. Yesterday, he's blocking in protection, he's up in the A-gap. He goes out, scans out to the nickel, and we're able to get a big third down pass off. So he does a lot of things without the football, and then when he does have the football, when he takes care of it, and he's decisive, he’s been good.”
Vrabel, Stevenson and the rest of the Patriots look to keep the good times rolling in Week 8 as the Browns (2-5) come to town on Sunday.
As of publishing, the Patriots are a 7-point favorite at FanDuel. You can get them on the moneyline at -320, and the total is set at 40.5.
Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.