New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead fumbled in the first quarter in a 24-17 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 16. Then he spent the rest of the game playing like he was making up for it.
He hasn’t seen huge usage in games this season, with five games of five touches or fewer. But over the last few weeks, he’s made the most of those carries and receptions. On Saturday, he led the team in receiving with 77 yards on four targets and four receptions. He also had five carries for 20 yards. One of Burkhead’s carries came on a 1-yard touchdown, when the running back endured what might have been the hardest hit of the game, a big blow from linebacker Lorenzo Alexander.
“I thought Rex’s touchdown was an outstanding run, showed great balance and made a nice catch on the play-action pass,” Belichick said during a postgame press conference at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. “He’s a good receiver, good runner, plays for us in the kicking game – I mean, he’s a solid four-down player.”
.@RBRex34 would not be denied. #BUFvsNE | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/1DYbA2yBzW
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 22, 2019
Running backs Sony Michel (21 carries, 96 yards) and James White (4 catches, 24 yards) also put together nice performances. And it would have been easy for the Patriots to go exclusively to them after Burkhead’s fumble. But New England must have intended to get the ball in his hands heading into the game. They didn’t abandon that game plan after one mistake.
“You got to put (the fumble) behind you and understand there is a lot more football to be played and understand you can really help the game out and turn the game into a positive,” Burkhead said at his locker after the game.
The Patriots are desperately searching for players to take the heat off Julian Edelman, who has carried the offense, sometimes single-handedly. Burkhead seems available to do just that, and perhaps he can contribute in the red zone, too, where he can serve as a multi-dimensional threat to aid with New England’s woes inside the 20-yard line.
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