The New England Patriots may have walked off the field with a gut-punch loss to the Buffalo Bills, but if there’s a silver lining in Foxborough, it’s wearing No. 34.
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson didn’t just flash potential - he made history. With his fourth 50-plus yard run of the season, Henderson became the first rookie in Patriots history to hit that mark.
That’s not just impressive - that’s rare air.
Let’s put that into context. This is a franchise that’s seen the likes of Curtis Martin, a Hall of Famer, and Sam Cunningham, one of the most productive backs in team history.
Henderson’s already doing things they didn’t. That’s not to say he’s reached their level yet - but the trajectory?
It’s pointing straight up.
From Second-Round Pick to Record-Breaker
When Mike Vrabel used his second pick as head of football operations to take Henderson in the second round, eyebrows were raised. At 5'10", 202 pounds, Henderson didn’t fit the mold of a bruising every-down back. But Vrabel wasn’t looking for a battering ram - he was hunting for something the 2024 Patriots offense sorely lacked: explosiveness.
He found it.
Henderson has become a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. His four touchdown runs of 50 yards or more this season aren’t just a Patriots rookie record - they lead the entire NFL.
No other player has more than two. That’s not just breaking records - that’s changing games.
Climbing Toward 1,000 Yards
Despite a slow start to the season in terms of usage, Henderson is now within striking distance of a 1,000-yard rushing campaign. He sits at 773 yards, averaging a healthy 5.4 yards per carry, with seven rushing touchdowns to his name. Add in 34 receptions for 212 yards and a receiving score, and he’s putting together a rookie season that demands attention.
What’s even more eye-opening? Henderson didn’t get more than nine carries in a game until Week 8 - outside of a brief appearance in Week 3. That’s a decision that falls squarely on Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels, who reportedly kept Henderson on the sidelines due to concerns about his pass protection.
Let’s be clear: Henderson isn’t a perfect back, and yes, pass protection matters. But when you’ve got a player who can flip the field - or the scoreboard - on any given touch, you find ways to get him involved.
You don’t leave that kind of weapon on the bench because he’s not a bulldozer in blitz pickup. That’s coaching malpractice.
The Future Is Now
There’s no more debate: TreVeyon Henderson is the Patriots' RB1. Whatever Rhamondre Stevenson brings to the table - and he’s a capable back in his own right - Henderson is the engine that can take this offense to another level. All he needs is the ball, a crease, and a little daylight.
Which brings us to Vrabel’s next job: fix the offensive line. If Henderson is going to be the cornerstone of this offense moving forward, he needs blockers who can pave the way in the run game and hold their own in pass protection. Because if this rookie can put up these kinds of numbers behind an inconsistent line, imagine what he could do with a unit built to unleash him.
Final Word
The Patriots blew a 21-point lead to one of the AFC’s elite teams. That stings - no way around it.
But in the ashes of that collapse, a star is emerging. TreVeyon Henderson isn’t just a bright spot in a tough season - he’s the kind of player you build around.
The kind of player who gives you hope.
And in New England, that hope wears No. 34 and runs like the wind.