The New England Patriots were the beneficiaries of speed in their hard-fought win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 28-23. In that win, they finally unleashed — and realized the breakaway speed — of rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams, who exploded for a 72-yard touchdown catch and run in the first quarter.
Williams only got extended snaps due to the injury to Kayshon Boutte. Yet, it's evident that when the recent third-round draft pick gets in space, he's a touchdown-maker. It's incumbent on head coach Mike Vrabel to get him more involved in the offense going forward.
The Patriots, now 8-2, are no longer just looking to be a playoff team. Their goals should be much higher, as in locking down the AFC East title, which they now lead by a comfortable margin over rival Buffalo. If they're to do so, they'll need the explosiveness of Williams and his fellow rookie draft pick, TreVeyon Henderson, to provide the long-range punch they need.
New England Patriots wideout Kyle Williams flashed game-changing speed in win over Tampa Bay
Patriots reporter Evan Lazar pointed out Williams' blistering speed as he broke away from Buccaneers rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison and sprinted down the sideline.
#Patriots WR Kyle Williams's max speed on his 72-yard TD: 21.78 MPH.
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) November 9, 2025
That's a scorching pace, and speed has always been an integral part of Williams' game. He ran a blistering 4.40 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, but even more impressive was his Washington State game tape.
For the Cougars, one attribute that was strikingly evident was his acceleration after the catch. Some receivers take time to accelerate to full speed after the catch, but Williams explodes out of his cuts and is up to maximum speed seemingly in an instant.
It's time for the Patriots to utilize their speed and explosiveness on offense
Vrabel spent a third-round premium pick on Williams, but he's used him far too sparingly this season. It took an injury for Williams to get more involved in the offense; to date this season, he's had just eight targets with a meager three receptions for 92 yards and Sunday's big touchdown.
When you invest premium draft capital in a player like Williams, it’s a mistake to let him languish on the bench. The answer is simple: The rookie needs more reps.
Defensive coordinators will now have to account for Williams’ presence whenever he’s on the field — and that changes everything for New England’s offense. His speed forces defenses to stay honest, especially when paired with fellow rookie TreVeyon Henderson, who showcased his own explosiveness with two long touchdown runs against Tampa Bay.
Vrabel took a calculated swing on Williams in the third round, and it’s time to cash in. If the Patriots truly want to keep ascending, Williams’ game-breaking speed needs to be a bigger part of the plan.