Patriots Running Game Will Be Short Sunday

By Steve Atkinson 

The Patriots will face the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday without Rhamondre Stevenson, who has been sidelined all week due to a toe injury. This means that Trey’Von Henderson is expected to be the starting running back. The Patriots will likely start the game slowly but may have a strong performance in the third quarter, similar to their game against the Browns last week. The defense could also begin the game slowly, but is expected to shut down the Falcons in the second half. With this in mind, expect the Patriots to improve to 7-2 as they head to Tampa a week from Sunday.

Patriots should beat Atlanta.

On the other side, we have Michael Penix. If Bill Belichick were still coaching the Patriots, he probably would have drafted Penix instead of Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft. Belichick had a particular aversion to Maye, possibly because he was a legitimate quarterback who overshadowed him. Belichick often favored less talented quarterbacks to maintain control of the team, putting his defensive ally in charge of the offense if needed.

There’s little doubt that Drake Maye will be the first overall pick in the 2024 draft. Caleb Williams has not impressed, and Jayden Daniels is likely to be the second overall pick despite missing most of the season. Maye has elevated the talent around him, and I expect Kayshon Boutte to score a touchdown this Sunday. Here’s what Mike Vrabel had to say about Drake Maye on Wednesday.

Well, I think there’s a lot of trust there. I think it starts with trust, just being able to put it in a position where those guys can make a play. So again, I think that there’s one, trust, then it’s location. Then, the guys are doing a good job down the field. I mean, we had one that was taken away earlier in New Orleans with a tough decision there from the referee, but that’s how it goes. Even Rhamondre [Stevenson] the other day, Rhamondre comes down with the ball, it’s just a little wide. So again, I think the guys that he’s been throwing to have helped him, and I think he stays patient. I don’t think he panics and launches it or throws it 7 yards out of bounds, but I think there’s been a lot of improvement from training camp and seeing some of those passes. I don’t think there were as many completed in the preseason as there were in the regular season. I’m glad we saved them for the regular season. So, I think there are a lot of things that go into it. Certainly, when you do those longer developing routes, there has to be a good pocket for the quarterback to step up in, and I think that that’s been the case as well.

With the last game before the trade deadline, the Patriots will look to add, probably at the deadline, as they push for a playoff run.