Rhamondre Stevenson took plenty of heat after the Patriots’ 13-10 loss to the Seahawks in the 2026 NFL opener, but the tape and the numbers tell a much different story. He wasn’t flawless.
No one’s pretending otherwise. Still, the backlash around his performance has gone well past what he actually put on film.
The quickness complaints came fast, and so did the questions about his vision. That kind of reaction usually starts with a rough eye test and ends with a box score read a little too quickly. In Stevenson’s case, that has led to a bigger pile-on than the game really justified.
The Patriots would have had a hard time finding offense without him. Stevenson finished with 95 scrimmage yards on 23 touches and played 85 percent of the snaps, with his production accounting for more than a third of New England’s total output. That matters even more when Drake Maye had a night to forget, throwing three interceptions.
New England’s reshaped offensive line actually held up better than expected in pass protection, but the run game remained stuck in mud. Seattle’s defense made sure of that.
Stevenson still kept churning, and 50 of his 51 rushing yards on 18 carries came after contact. He was fighting for everything.
The Patriots also weren’t exactly working with a full deck at the skill spots. Romeo Doubs, the high-priced free-agent addition, finished with a catchless New England debut.
Hunter Henry was checked for a concussion right at the start of the second half. A few plays later, A.J.
Brown went down with an ankle injury and did not return.
With Maye struggling and the receiving group either ineffective or hurt, New England leaned on Stevenson to carry the offense. He did more than run the ball. He led the team with five receptions and added 44 receiving yards, giving the Patriots their steadiest source of production on a rough night.
And for anyone eager to frame him as lacking burst, there’s this: per Next Gen Stats, Stevenson hit 18.96 miles per hour on one carry, faster than Seahawks rookie tailback Jadarian Price’s top speed of 18.57. Price drew attention for his explosive gains and his 5.2 yards per carry in his first regular-season action, but Stevenson quietly topped him in straight-line speed on the night.
That doesn’t mean TreVeyon Henderson isn’t part of the picture. The 2025 second-round pick brings a different kind of juice, and his skill set makes sense alongside Stevenson’s physical style. But Henderson missed Week 1 with an ankle injury and has been out since late August, which makes it hard to suddenly hand him the bulk of the work after so much time away from training camp reps.
For now, Stevenson looks like the one who should keep carrying the load. Nothing about his performance against Seattle calls for a dramatic shakeup.
In tough conditions, with his quarterback unraveling and his pass catchers disappearing, he gave New England real value. That’s not a player who should be pushed aside.
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Drake Maye has made it clear Henrys influence reaches well beyond the routes he runs, praising him for the mentorship and leadership he brings to a young offense. With the Patriots dealing with A.J. Browns high-ankle sprain and the uncertainty that comes with moving pieces around a passing game, Henrys steadiness matters even more, and the next milestone is suddenly sitting right in front of him. [Read more 🡒]