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Rhamondre Stevenson was a focal point in the offense, and other snap count observations from the Patriots’ season opener - The Boston Globe

The Boston Globe · Nicole Yang · 2026-09-10T17:04:30+00:00 · nguồn gốc

SEATTLE — Breaking down the snap counts from Wednesday night’s Patriots Seahawks game . . . 1. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson played 60 snaps, 85 percent of the offense’s total, leading all skill-position players (with the exception of Drake Maye). With TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) sidelined, Stevenson was expected to have an increased role. Corey Kiner (eight snaps) and practice squadder Lan Larison (three snaps) occasionally rotated in, but Stevenson was clearly the primary back. He finished as the team leader in touches (18 carries and five catches) and yards from scrimmage (95). It was not surprising to see Stevenson maintain such a featured role in the offense, given his productive training camp. It also was not surprising to see the running game struggle a bit, given Seattle’s defensive prowess. Last season, the Seahawks allowed an average of 3.7 yards per carry and surrendered just five explosive rushing plays — both league lows. It was somewhat surprising to see the Patriots continue to turn to the run, knowing how stout the Seahawks are against it. On first and 10, the Patriots handed the ball off 70 percent of the time and gained an average of 3 yards. “They were No. 2 in the league in run defense last year, so I’m sure they probably picked up where they left off,” coach Mike Vrabel said after the 13-10 loss. “I thought we had some decent runs. Again, not necessarily good enough, but I thought we had some positive runs. We had a few negative ones, but I thought we protected well enough.” Stevenson averaged just 2.8 yards per carry, well below his 2025 average of 4.6. According to Pro Football Focus, 50 of Stevenson’s 51 rushing yards came after contact — a testament to Seattle’s active front. If Henderson returns in Week 2, Stevenson’s proportion of offensive snaps could fall closer to 60-65 percent, reflecting a common split for the pair last season. 2. Prized wide receiver A.J. Brown played just 31 snaps, 44 percent of the offense’s total, before exiting the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Mack Hollins led all receivers with 50 snaps, followed by DeMario Douglas (44), Romeo Doubs (40), and Kyle Williams (12). Efton Chism was among the inactive players. Weathering Brown’s upcoming absence is going to be a challenge for the Patriots, who chose to cut into their wide receiver depth by trading Kayshon Boutte in August. The team now could really use Boutte, a proven deep-play threat who boasted strong rapport with Maye. Instead, there will be heightened attention on Doubs, who didn’t catch any of his three targets on Wednesday, and Williams, who registered zero targets. This stretch without Brown will be an opportunity for Williams, a 2025 third-round draft pick, to show he’s ready for an expanded role. If he cannot consistently contribute, then it’s fair to question his future. 3. Safety Jaylen Reed, the player the Patriots received from the Texans in exchange for Boutte, played just eight special teams snaps. It will be worth monitoring if Reed’s defensive role grows as he becomes more comfortable within the Patriots’ system. Starting safeties Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson both played 100 percent of the snaps, with Dell Pettus coming in for 20 snaps on three-safety looks. 4. First-round pick Caleb Lomu played just two snaps, both on special teams. Lomu may eventually serve as the jumbo tight end/sixth offensive lineman, but that role currently belongs to Greg Van Roten. Second-round pick Gabe Jacas played 19 defensive snaps (38 percent) and 20 special teams snaps (91 percent). Jacas had his moments, sacking Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock and tackling running back Jadarian Price for a loss of 3 yards. Jacas also committed a penalty (illegal block above the waist) on a kickoff return, but overall had a promising NFL debut. Third-round pick Eli Raridon played 38 snaps, 21 as a run blocker. Raridon made the most of his one target, bringing in the 2-yard pass for the Patriots’ lone touchdown. It will be interesting to see how Brown’s absence will impact the use of tight ends. Perhaps Raridon and Hunter Henry will become more involved in the passing game, while Cameron Latu and Tanner Arkin serve as the blockers. 5. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, fresh off a contract extension, played 100 percent of the defense’s snaps. He held Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba without a catch on two targets across 10 coverage matchups, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Smith-Njigba still finished with eight catches on 11 targets for 122 yards and a touchdown, all of which came against zone coverage. 6. The Patriots dominated the time of possession and held the ball for almost 10 more minutes than the Seahawks. The lopsided split further highlights the gravity of Maye’s turnovers, as each of New England’s fourth-quarter possessions ended in an interception. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com. Follow her on X @nicolecyang.