Rhamondre Stevenson was the best player on the field Sunday in the New England Patriots‘ stunning Week 1 upset of the Cincinnati Bengals. The fourth-year pro racked up 120 yards and a touchdown in one of the best games of his career and looked like a true franchise running back.
Stevenson was Week 1’s unquestioned top back before Jordan Mason lit up the New York Jets on Monday night. Let’s dive into the numbers for a deeper look at Stevenson’s excellent performance.
What the Stats Say About Rhamondre Stevenson’s Stellar Week 1 Showing
Physical, Tough Running
Stevenson racked up 25 carries for 120 yards and one touchdown while adding three catches for six yards. He posted 118 yards after contact, the most in the NFL in Week 1, per TruMedia. Joe Mixon ranked second 101 yards after contact.
Moreover, Stevenson’s 4.72 yards after contact per rush ranked third behind J.K. Dobbins and Aaron Jones. He also posted 10 rushes of 4+ yards after contact, ranking third.
#Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson is going to have a HUGE season! pic.twitter.com/nYUbtndfbS
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) September 8, 2024
It’s easy to look at those numbers and criticize New England’s offensive line for not doing a good enough job of run blocking. And the O-line indeed had issues in the running game despite largely exceeding preseason expectations.
However, blocking wasn’t always an issue. The Bengals stacked 8+ defenders in the box 24% of the time, 11th-most in Week 1. As such, at least one defender was typically unaccounted for, and it was Stevenson’s job to make them miss.
Obviously, he got the job done.
Improved Elusiveness
Stevenson, who battled injuries late in the last two campaigns, worked hard to transform his body during the offseason. He entered training camp at roughly the same weight but with less fat and more muscle mass.
His efforts were rewarded on Sunday.
Behind a work-in-progress O-line, Stevenson averaged just 0.08 yards before contact, ranking 37th in Week 1. Antonio Gibson, who also played well in his limited opportunities, ranked 40th in the same category.
Stevenson made up for it with a league-high 10 missed tackles. Gibson, who saw just seven rushes, posted two missed tackles.
David Andrews mentioned movement giving the #Patriots some trouble, and that showed up on a couple of failed OZ runs
Cincy also set hard edges to force Mondre inside, where there wasn't much room when NE moved laterally, and 2nd-level defenders were an issue at times pic.twitter.com/z9l49TNvN9
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) September 9, 2024
Stevenson always has been more of a power back than a shifty open-field runner. And his physical running ability remains the best part of his game.
But Stevenson also is quicker and more elusive than he’s been given credit for. And he now looks even better in both areas.
Favoring One Side of the Offensive Line
The Patriots rode their running game to victory in Cincinnati, and Jerod Mayo isn’t hiding the fact that he wants to use the same formula all season.
“We’re going to run the ball,” he said during a WEEI appearance Monday morning. “It’s not a secret. We’re going to run the ball all year. We will always offensively be a run-first team. And you gotta stop it. And if you do, then we have other answers after that.”
That’s all well and good, but if the Patriots are to see long-term success in the running game, they’ll need to be able to run in multiple directions.
Stevenson ran to the left 10 times for 40 yards, 28 yards of which came on two plays. The Patriots received a strong performance from left guard Michael Jordan, who was promoted from the practice squad due to starter Sidy Sow’s ankle injury, but endured ugly games from left tackles Chukwuma Okorafor (who was benched) and Vederian Lowe.
By contrast, Stevenson ran right 15 times for 80 yards, good for 5.3 yards per carry. The right side of the line was impressive, with right tackle Mike Onwenu enjoying an excellent game and rookie right guard Layden Robinson showing a ton of promise. Per usual, center David Andrews was effective in helping both sides.
It was just one game, and the Patriots’ offensive line should be more balanced once Sow returns and Lowe fully recovers from his recent abdomen injury. But don’t be surprised if future opponents load up on the right and force Stevenson to run left.
Jerod Mayo Sings Stevenson’s Praises After Patriots Victory
After hyping up the running game during his WEEI appearance, Mayo was asked for additional insight during a video conference. He used the opportunity to praise Stevenson, whom he described as one of the NFL’s best running backs.
“We’re a game-planning team overall,” Mayo said. “And one thing Eliot [Wolf] and I agreed on is that Rhamondre is a very special back. He may not get all the publicity, but this is a guy that can run the ball, fall forward for four yards every single play, catch the ball at the backfield, and is also a very smart football player.
“You want to get the ball in the hands of your best players, and I would say Rhamondre is one of those.”
HC Jerod Mayo on #Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson:
“One thing I’ll say about Rhamondre, and I’ve told him this… I think he’s one of the best (running) backs in the league. I just don’t think he gets the appreciation. I just don’t think he gets the hype as some of these other… pic.twitter.com/xlFaa3QpYb
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) September 9, 2024
Stevenson put Sunday’s game away after the Patriots received the ball with 2:13 remaining. He ran four consecutive times, picking up 26 yards and two first downs along the way.
“At the end of the game there, he was a little bit tired, and he wanted to stay in the game,” Mayo said. “This is the start of something special going forward.”
Stevenson was one of the league’s more underrated running backs the last two seasons. Late-campaign injuries and New England’s overall struggles limited his fantasy impact and, subsequently, his publicity. But the Patriots saw enough to reward Stevenson with a four-year, $36 million extension during the offseason.
How that deal ages remains to be seen, but it’s hard to look at Stevenson after one week and not believe he’s primed for a career season.