According to their head coach, the New England Patriots “tried to beat ourselves” throughout their Week 6 win against the New York Jets. It is not hard to see what is at the root of Mike Vrabel’s assessment: the Patriots offense turning the ball over twice during the game.
Naturally, the team had a simple message for running back Corey Kiner before inserting him into the lineup late in the fourth quarter.
“Protect the team, protect the ball,” the 24-year-old recalled after the game. “The team is the ball, the ball is the team, so
just protect the ball and put the team’s best interests in front.”
Kiner probably is no stranger to that message. One of the Patriots’ 13 total giveaways this season came from him, a fumble lost during last week’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Nonetheless, the team opted to go with him when taking possession of the ball with 7:20 to go in the fourth quarter on Sunday. Up 23-16, Kiner was called upon again, and again, and again. He ended up touching the ball eight straight times, helping New England burn over six minutes off the clock and kick a field goal that would increase their advantage to 10 points.
Of the 51 yards gained on the drive, 42 came on runs by Kiner.
“It feels great,” he said. “To be in that position in the game, to see the smiles on my teammates’ faces and my coaches’ faces, that they can trust me. It felt great, all the hard work we have been putting in as a team and personally, it just feels great.”
“I’m glad Corey got a chance to get his opportunity,” said fellow running back TreVeyon Henderson. “I’ve been telling him that his time is coming. So, I was grateful to see that today, to be able to support and serve him.”
Kiner getting a chance to effective close out the game came in part due to Henderson. The second-year back entered the game with an ankle injury, and was limited to 16 snaps on the day. He also had one of those aforementioned two turnovers, when he fumbled the ball inside New England territory in the third quarter.
And so, Kiner got his chance and for a second straight week ran with impressive efficiency. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry on the drive, and now stands at 4.5 yards per run over his 31 total attempts this season.
“He runs hard, and it’s the same way he’s selling the kickoff returns,” said Mike Vrabel about the late-August trade acquisition. “We got three capable backs and you ride the hot hand.”
On Sunday, that hot hand turned out to be Kiner. And with a quick turnaround ahead. before the upcoming Thursday night game in Chicago, the Patriots might just continue riding him — especially if he continues taking care of the football.
