It was a challenging year for Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson.
After dealing with the loss of his father back in March, Stevenson’s season then started on a rough note. The Patriots’ lead back continued a trend of bad ball security issues, losing three fumbles over a three-game. He then suffered a toe injury that sidelined him for three games in November.
But following the team’s Week 14 bye, a healthy Stevenson rebounded and has been one of New England’s best players over the final stretch
of the regular season.
“I have a great deal of respect and admiration for him,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. “I know he’s dealt with some things this year and what a tribute to him, go through some adversity at the beginning of the year relative to the ball security stuff, but just never complained. Never put his head down. Just continued to try to work at improving something that he felt like he could get better at.”
Over the final four weeks, Stevenson found the end zone six times while totaling 410 scrimmage yards. He led all running backs in yards per attempt (11.0) and yards after contact (8.1). That production came in addition to his importance in the passing game even when he didn’t touch the ball due to his work in pass protection.
“The way he’s blocked this year, it’s been one of the best in the league. It’s comforting having 38 back there,” quarterback Drake Maye said.
Stevenson’s most recent performance — in which he totaled 131 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries while adding 22 yards and another score through the air — earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
“Always excited for our players,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “I sound like a broken record, but I think he continued to do the things that we needed him to do to help us win, and in turn, was rewarded for it with touchdowns, with rushing yards, with a big catch there. But also, he protected the quarterback. So, I’m excited and happy for him. We recognized him, and then we moved on.”
The Patriots now hope the 27-year old can carry that momentum into the postseason, beginning with a first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. And McDaniels hopes Stevenson’s approach throughout the highs and lows of the season resonated with younger players.
“I think his attitude has been fantastic,” McDaniels said. “The way he practices, I wouldn’t want a player to practice any other way than the way he goes about his business. He prepares as well as any player we have, to get ready to go and play. He plays a tremendous amount of roles for us on offense.
“So I think it’s just a great example for any young player. I hope they’re paying attention. It’s hard to go through a season in the National Football League and not deal with some personal adversity, on or off the field. But then you have to be a professional. Do your job. Improve in that area. Then eventually you’re going to get on the other side of that. I think that I speak for everybody in the building: We’re all super happy and excited whenever Mondre does anything well because he’s so well thought of here.”
