The New England Patriots are back in the AFC Championship Game - and no, that’s not a typo. After back-to-back 4-13 seasons, they’ve flipped the script in dramatic fashion.
Under head coach Mike Vrabel and with rookie quarterback Drake Maye finding his rhythm, this team has gone from league afterthought to legitimate contender. But one of the most surprising pieces of this turnaround?
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who’s gone from trade bait to playoff workhorse.
Let’s rewind for a second. Stevenson came into the 2025 season with a lot to prove - and a lot to fix.
After fumbling seven times in 2024, matching his touchdown total, he entered the year with his roster spot anything but secure. That’s the kind of stat line that gets running backs shipped out fast in today’s NFL.
And early on, it looked like more of the same. Stevenson coughed up the ball twice in a Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh, a game the Patriots had in hand before turnovers flipped the script.
Then came another fumble in Week 5 against Buffalo. Even though New England pulled out the win, Stevenson’s ball security issues were once again front and center.
At that point, it felt like a matter of when - not if - the Patriots would move on from him.
But football seasons often hinge on unexpected moments. And for Stevenson, that moment came when Antonio Gibson, the team’s more reliable back at the time, went down with a season-ending injury in Week 5. With Gibson out, Vrabel had to pivot - and that meant giving Stevenson another shot, while also working in explosive rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
That gamble paid off.
Since Week 5, Stevenson has looked like a different player. He’s been steady, productive, and - most importantly - secure with the football. Over the final seven games of the regular season and into the playoffs, he’s been one of the most consistent pieces of the Patriots’ offense:
- 80 yards in Week 14
- 77 in Week 15
- 78 in Week 16
- 102 in Week 17
- 153 in Week 18
- 85 in the Wild Card Round
- 81 in the Divisional Round
That’s not just a bounce-back - that’s Stevenson playing the best football of his career when it matters most.
On the season, he finished with 603 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on a healthy 4.6 yards per carry. He added 345 receiving yards on 32 catches, scored twice through the air, and moved the chains 40 times.
In the playoffs, he’s added another 130 rushing yards at a 4.7-yard clip and chipped in 86 receiving yards. No touchdowns yet, but his value goes beyond the stat sheet.
He’s been a reliable outlet for Maye and a steady presence in an offense that’s still growing into its identity.
And it’s not like he’s had a ton of help up front. The Patriots’ offensive line has struggled all season long, both in run blocking and pass protection.
They gave up 47 sacks in the regular season and have already allowed 10 more in two playoff games. That’s a glaring issue - and one Vrabel and the front office will need to address this offseason.
But despite the line’s struggles, Stevenson and Henderson have found ways to produce, often creating yards on their own.
The turnaround in Stevenson’s game isn’t just about numbers, though. It’s about trust.
After fumbling 10 times across two seasons, Stevenson has now gone 14 straight games without putting the ball on the ground. That kind of ball security, combined with his late-season surge, has likely locked in his spot on the 2026 roster.
There’s no question that TreVeyon Henderson brings flash and big-play potential. But Stevenson’s resurgence has brought balance to the backfield - and stability to an offense that desperately needed it.
From the brink of being traded to helping lead a playoff push, Rhamondre Stevenson has rewritten his narrative in New England. And with the Patriots now one win away from the Super Bowl, expect him to keep playing a key role - not just this postseason, but into next year as well.