FOXBORO — Patriots fans and fantasy managers alike had been clamoring for a TreVeyon Henderson breakout game.
It finally happened for the rookie running back Sunday, when he carried the ball 10 times for 75 yards, flashing the explosive ability he promised during his Ohio State career in the 32-13 win.
It wasn’t a perfect performance – Henderson capped the game off by losing a fumble on the goal line in his final touch – but the rookie was still a bright spot in the 32-13 win.
“I know the coaches, they gave me a lot more opportunity this week,” Henderson said. “I’m grateful that I was able to help this team come out with the win.”
It was a slow start to Henderson’s career. The 2025 second-round pick was coming off the most unproductive game of his career in the Patriots’ Week 7 win over the Titans, when he played nine snaps and carried the ball twice for 5 yards.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels called Henderson’s lack of a workload in Week 7 “circumstantial.” Head coach Mike Vrabel said earlier in the week that the Patriots decided to lean on Rhamondre Stevenson after some early success running the ball in the win over the Titans.
Stevenson still touched the ball more in Sunday’s win over the Browns, carrying it 14 times for 34 yards and catching one pass for 15 yards, but Henderson was far more effective.
The rookie’s first two carries went for 30 yards. He added a 32-yard carry early in the third quarter.
“I’ve definitely been getting more comfortable as a season evolved, getting more reps, getting getting more opportunities, different looks going up against different players,” Henderson said.
Henderson, who center Garrett Bradbury described as “dynamic,” out-gained his college teammate, Quinshon Judkins, who started for the Browns and had been more effective through the beginning of the season.
The Patriots limited Judkins, who left the game early with a shoulder injury, to just 19 yards on nine carries. Henderson went two picks after the Browns selected Judkins in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Obviously, getting TreVeyon involved was special today, getting his speed on the edge,” right tackle Morgan Moses said. “And that’s what it looks like. Everybody’s earning their role and waiting their time. And when your number is called, you want to be able to go out there and do great things. So, big ups, take my hat off to to the young guy just being ready and studying and being a professional. But this what it looks like when you play complementary football.”
The Patriots were not expected to have so much team success on the ground against the Browns, who came into Week 8 sporting the NFL’s best run defense. Overall, they gained 177 yards on 35 carries. It was their second straight game with 175 or more rushing yards.
The Patriots are on a five-game winning streak and are 6-2 overall, but calling their run game inconsistent heading into Week 7 would have been a compliment. The ground game was completely ineffective in wins over the Bills and Saints in Weeks 5 and 6. They also struggled to run the ball in Week 1 against the Raiders and Week 4 against the Panthers.
“Tough sledding. I think we stayed committed and mixed some interior runs. We hit some outside plays, some perimeter runs,” head coach Mike Vrabel said after the game. “Then obviously the quarterback stuff helps, those numbers.”
Quarterback Drake Maye certainly boosted the Patriots’ rushing totals on Sunday, picking up 50 yards on seven carries. His longest rushing play was a 28-yard scramble late in the third quarter that elicited “M-V-P” chants from the home crowd at Gillette Stadium.
On the very next play, Maye showed off his arm by hitting wide receiver Kayshon Boutte in stride for a 39-yard touchdown pass.
“When they pressure and they play man coverage and Drake can do that, that has to be part of who we are,” Vrabel said of Maye’s mobility. “We’ve got to send him to Spring Training and figure out when to slide and continue to talk about that. I’ll do my best there.”
The Patriots’ run-blocking has certainly improved over the last two games as Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu and Moses continue to jell.
Moses credited “playing together” for the improved run game. Campbell said the team has placed a major focus on improving the ground game. Bradbury said a big key was to match the Browns’ physicality with speed.
Fullback Jack Westover was effective as a lead blocker and said a key to improving the run game was “guys being sticky.”
“I think just handling first level first those combinations, and getting to the second level has been really critical. And running backs are doing a hell of a job. They’re seeing the game well.”
The Browns are now 2-6 on the season, but running well against them proves the Patriots can do it against anybody in the NFL. The Patriots’ offensive line struggled to limit defenders like Myles Garrett in other ways, but they finished strong, getting the ball with 3:18 left in the game and picking up a game-clinching first down on an 11-yard run from Terrell Jennings.
That, according to Bradbury, is a “lineman’s dream.”
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