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New England Patriots team grades vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By Kenneth Teape

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 5: Wide receiver Chris Hogan #15 of the New England Patriots celebrates with wide receiver Danny Amendola #80after hauling in a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Brady during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 5: Wide receiver Chris Hogan #15 of the New England Patriots celebrates with wide receiver Danny Amendola #80after hauling in a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Brady during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots team grades vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 5: Running back Mike Gillislee #35 of the New England Patriots runs for a gain of six yards against middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 during the third quarter of an NFL football game on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

. RUSHING OFFENSE. A. .

The Patriots got excellent production tonight from their backfield. The running game hasn’t been great this season, as the Patriots averaged only 3.6 yards per rush and 95.5 yards per game. Both of those numbers were easily surpassed against the Buccaneers.

Dion Lewis received his heaviest workload of the season and made the most of it. Lewis carried the ball seven times for a team-high 53 yards. Mike Gillislee wasn’t far behind, as he carried the ball 12 times for 52 yards.

It was good to see the Patriots get something going on the ground. With the passing game not operating at 100 percent, the running game was needed to help balance things out and they showed up. This was the third time the Patriots went over 100 yards rushing as a team, but was easily their most efficient night in terms of yards per carry.

New England is expecting Rex Burkhead to return to the lineup in Week 6, which should help them keep up the production on the ground.

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