Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled again for the Patriots in Week 5 vs. Bills
Rhamondre Stevenson put the ball on the ground once again for the New England Patriots early in Sunday night's game against the Buffalo Bills. But after a quick benching and an injury to Antonio Gibson, Stevenson ended up scoring two touchdowns for the Patriots.
Sunday's fumble was the 10th time Stevenson has lost a fumble in his last 20 games for New England, going back to last season. He fumbled away New England's second possession of the game in the first quarter Sunday night at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo -- one play after the New England defense recovered a fumble of its own to give the Patriots offense the ball at the Buffalo 47-yard line.
Drake Maye connected with Stevenson for seven yards on first down, but the running back let Shaq Thompson punch the ball out as he turned up field to pick up more yardage. Bills linebacker Terrell Bernard recovered the ball at the Buffalo 38.
It was the third lost fumble for Stevenson so far this season, joining the two lost fumbles he had in New England's Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and right tackle Mike Onwenu both went up to Stevenson on the sideline to offer up words of encouragement after his fumble. Vrabel supported Stevenson after his fumbling issues against Pittsburgh two weeks ago, and he had his back again Sunday in Buffalo.
Stevenson only benched briefly, scores two touchdowns
The New England defense bailed Stevenson out by forcing a quick punt, but the fifth-year back started the Patriots next drive on the bench. Gibson carried the ball on the first three plays of the drive and picked up 15 yards, and had another seven-yard rush after the Patriots got a first down.
But Stevenson was back on the field for a third-and-8 play when Maye hit Kayshon Boutte for just enough to move the chains. He didn't get a carry on the drive though, which ended with another New England punt.
While it looked like Stevenson was going to be relegated to pass-protection situations, that approach took a hit in the second quarter Gibson had to leave the field after he was up-ended -- and nearly fumbled the ball away himself -- on a kickoff return. Gibson's knee took a hard hit on the play, and he was ruled out for the game a short time later.
Stevenson ended up getting a few red zone carries in the second half and made the most of them. He ran in a four-yard touchdown in the third quarter to put the Patriots up, 13-10, and then another in the fourth quarter to make it a 20-10 game.
