NASHVILLE — The Patriots used to disregard the noise. On Sunday, they embraced it.
The Patriots averaged over 4 yards per carry for simply the third time this season and for the primary time in 4 weeks Sunday in a 31-13 win over the Titans.
So, what was the distinction?
“I feel you guys speaking about it a lot,” middle Garrett Bradbury instructed the Herald, talking in regards to the media.
Bradbury will not be flawed. The media has been harping on the Patriots’ struggles on the bottom, regardless of the workforce’s success, if solely as a result of it appeared unsustainable to proceed profitable with none semblance of a speeding assault.
That modified Sunday, when the Patriots wished to run the ball and had early success.
They in the end settled for a subject objective, however on the Patriots’ first drive, they known as 4 straight runs that went for 38 yards. Total, the Patriots rushed 36 occasions for a season-high 175 yards with a landing, and that features two kneeldowns from backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs to cap off the win.
Working again Rhamondre Stevenson revealed after the sport that head coach Mike Vrabel had challenged the offense to run the ball higher.
“That was the emphasis all week,” Bradbury mentioned. “Run the rattling ball and have some effort and end it. That’s the mentality for the O-line. We don’t have to provide them a purpose to cross it. If we’re getting 6, 7, 8 yards a pop, then why cease it?”
The Patriots additionally modified their method. Rhamondre Stevenson was on the sector for 76.6% of snaps, and that probably would have been an excellent greater determine if the sport didn’t get out of hand, and if third-stringer didn’t cap off the competition with eight snaps.
Stevenson alone had 18 carries for 88 yards with a landing.
“Rhamondre was working exhausting, and it was fairly cool,” Bradbury mentioned.
Rookie TreVeyon Henderson was on the sector for simply 9 snaps and carried the ball twice for five yards. Jennings ended the sport working exhausting with 5 carries for 18 yards. Quarterback Drake Maye additionally chipped in with eight carries for 62 yards.
Total, it was a confidence-builder for the offense, which lacks any main holes, if Sunday’s success on the bottom if any indication for a way the remainder of the season will look.
“If you happen to run the ball properly for 4 or 5 yards per carry and issues like that, then it positively offers you confidence. Two carries for five yards (every), that’s a primary down. We love these 4- or 5-yard runs.”
That the Patriots had been in a position to run the ball properly this week is necessary. What can be much more telling is that if that success can carry over into the long run.
