As soon as it was clear the Patriots were going to lose to the Raiders last week, the overreactions came pouring in, decrying a doom-and-gloom outlook for the rest of the 2025 season. Within those dramatizations, however, were some legitimate concerns, among them the state of the secondary without Christian Gonzalez and the lack of run game integration despite a stacked backfield.
Knowing how Josh McDaniels likes to run his offenses, there were high expectations for what the running back roster would produce in Week 1.
The impressive preseason by rookie TreVeyon Henderson and the hope that Rhamondre Stevenson would revert to a previous version of himself were enough to believe that Drake Maye had a solid security blanket to rely on, as he is surrounded by an entirely made-over receiving corps.
That's not what happened, though, as the running back room recorded just 13 carries for 45 yards and essentially disappeared in the second half without explanation. Because of that, reporters were quick to ask Josh McDaniales about that decision when speaking to him on Thursday, and he actually said what Patriots fans were hoping to hear.
Josh McDaniels admits to a big mistake the Patriots made in their Week 1 loss to the Raiders
Josh McDaniels was asked what he learned about his 3 running backs in Week 1:
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) September 11, 2025
“They need the ball more. That’s the best way to say it…” 🤷♂️
TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson combined for 13 carries on the day 👎@WEEI #NEPats pic.twitter.com/TUhtGmvlU0
Obviously, if the game plan allows it and the opponent's defense is bad against the run, there's a good chance we will see more from the running back trio. That could be as soon as this weekend against the Dolphins, but it still feels a bit premature to worry about the usage, or lack thereof, of the backfield just yet.
At the same time, however, they are all capable of being used in the passing game, which can be a huge benefit for Maye as things continue to develop with the offense in general. The decision not to capitalize on that more last week might be more questionable than anything else, but we'll have to see how they fare against the Dolphins.
Considering just how explosive Henderson looked alone, there's no reason he should be spending more time on the bench than doing something productive for the offense. He can be the face of the Patriots' running back room for years to come, and there are plenty of reasons to unleash him as soon as possible if they hope to build a dynamic offense moving forward.
Making Maye feel more comfortable is crucial, too, and taking advantage of a solid running back roster would help accomplish that.