The New England Patriots came up short against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, losing 35-31 to their AFC East rivals after blowing a 21-0 lead on a snowy afternoon at Gillette Stadium.
While Drake Maye struggled throwing the ball and the defense allowed a touchdown on five straight possessions, rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson did everything he could to will the Patriots to victory.
The 23-year-old back racked up a career-high 148 rushing yards on 14 carries. plus 13 receiving yards on two catches. He also broke free for a pair of long touchdown runs, taking a 52-yard run to the house in the second quarter and a 65-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Henderson now has four touchdown runs of at least 50 yards this season — a New England franchise record. It also leads the league this year and ties an NFL rookie record for running backs since 2000.
After a slow start working behind Rhamondre Stevenson, Henderson has taken on a bigger role and flourished during the second half of the season. Over his last seven games, he has seven touchdowns while averaging 88.6 rushing yards per game and a whopping 6.2 yards per carry, helping the Patriots go 6-1 during that time.
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Henderson is one of the fastest and most explosive players in the league, making him a game-changer for New England’s offense. Combined with Maye’s elite passing skills, his ability to score at a moment’s notice on the ground makes the Patriots incredibly tough to defend.
The Ohio State product will look to stay hot in Week 16 against a Baltimore Ravens defense that just shut out the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Featured image via Eric Canha/Imagn Images
