Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson helped off field with ankle injury

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson is questionable to return with an ankle injury.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was helped off the field after an ankle injury in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Stevenson had rumbled on the ground for nine rushes and 40 yards in the first quarter, before the hit sidelined him. The Patriots’ running back was brought down awkwardly on a nasty looking tackle from Chargers linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu.

He was ultimately helped off the field by the Patriots’ training staff, when it was obvious that he couldn’t put weight on his ankle. Soon after the injury, the Patriots announced Stevenson was questionable to return to the game.

Losing Stevenson would be another blow to an already banged up Patriots offense. Ezekiel Elliott has already been working his way through injuries, and he would be the next man up behind Stevenson. The team is also missing multiple wide receivers, including burgeoning rookie wideout Demario Douglas.

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3 standout stars for Patriots in Week 12 loss to Giants

The Patriots failed to come away with a win on Sunday, but there were three standout stars that deserve recognition.

The New England Patriots are bad—like, real bad.

They are now in control of their own draft pick destiny. This week was a real barn burner of a game (sarcasm) with the Patriots dropping a 10-7 loss at MetLife Stadium to another brutally bad team.

The Patriots had a chance to send the game into overtime, but rookie kicker Chad Ryland missed a 35-yard field goal wide left to hand the New York Giants the victory.

As always, there were some bright spots for the Patriots, and there were at least three stars that shined in the game. Here are this week’s standout stars:

5 big takeaways from Patriots 10-7 loss at Giants

Here are 5 big takeaways from Sunday’s Patriots-Giants game.

There was once a time when the New England Patriots were renowned for the level of extra preparation for their next game they underwent during the bye week. That time seems to have long passed.

Coming off their annual week of in-season rest, the Patriots fell to the New York Giants 10-7 on Sunday afternoon in the battle for the third overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The loss punctuated what has been a brutally disappointing season for a team that used to routinely dominate the NFL, and one that had even usually reserved media members openly astounded.

Here are five big takeaways from the loss.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Josh Allen  339-81 4
 Jalen Hurts 200-65 5
 Dak Prescott 331-10 4
 C.J. Stroud 304-47 3
 Jordan Love 268-39 3
Running Backs Rush Rcv TD
Kyren Williams 16-143
6-61
2
Christian McCaffrey 19-114
5-25
2
Bijan Robinson 16-91
3-32
2
Isiah Pacheco 15-55
5-34
2
Josh Jacobs 20-110
4-15
1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Tyreek Hill 9-102 1
Mike Evans 6-70 2
Rashee Rice 8-107 1
DeVonta Smith 7-106 1
Keenan Allen 14-106 0
Tight Ends Yards TD
Pat Freiermuth 9-120 0
Tyler Higbee 5-29 2
Sam LaPorta 5-47 1
Travis Kelce 6-91 0
Gerald Everett 4-43 1
Placekickers XP FG
Blake Grupe 0 5
Brandon McManus 1 3
Tyler Bass 4 2
Jason Sanders 4 2
Chris Boswell 1 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Miami 7-2 1
San Francisco 6-2 0
Dallas 4-1 1
Baltimore 3-4 0
Green Bay 3-3 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB D. Thompson-Robinson – Head
QB Baker Mayfield – Ankle
WR Laviska Shenault – Ankle
WR Demario Douglas – Head
WR Rashid Shaheed – Thigh
WR Amari Cooper – Rib
WR Chris Olave – Concussion

Chasing Ambulances

QB D. Thompson-Robinson – Got blasted by a defender and left the field with a bloody lip. Was diagnosed with a concussion. So the Browns will either revert to P.J. Walker as they did in the game, or they promote Joe Flacco from the practice squad. The Browns play at the Jaguars this week.

QB Baker Mayfield – He injured his ankle and looked significant at first, but he later returned to the game. Kyle Trask replaced him in the game for a few plays. He should be good for the Panthers this week.

WR Demario Douglas – He’s been the only Patriot wideout with a shred of fantasy value and he was clotheslined on a punt return though no penalty was called. He’s believed to have a concussion but more should be known by Wednesday at the latest.

WR Rashid Shaheed – Thigh
WR Chris Olave – Concussion The Saints’ receivers are in bad shape. Olave hit the ground hard on an attempted catch and was ruled out with a concussion. Shaheed injured his thigh and did not return to the game. Michael Thomas is already on IR. The Saints host the Lions this week and may have little more than A.T. PerryKeith Kirkwood, and Taysom Hill for receivers.

WR Amari Cooper – He had his arms outstretched for a pass when a Denver defender delivered a crushing shot to his ribs. He was immediately ruled out though his X-rays were negative. The rookie Cedric Tillman was the top wideout with four catches for 55 yards. The Browns  play at the Rams this week but it isn’t even certain who the quarterback will be. If Cooper misses time, assumedly Elijah Moore would see more targets but there have been no fantasy-relevant wideouts in Cleveland other than Cooper. 

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Jake Browning – The replacement for Joe Burrow threw for 227 yards and a touchdown with one interception against the Steelers. He connected with Ja’Marr Chase for 81 yards on four receptions but had no success with the rest of the receivers. The Steelers were also able to hold Joe Mixon to only eight carries for 16 yards, so the absence of Burrow is going to impact both the rushing and receiving.

WR Calvin Ridley – After disappearing for much of the season, Ridley scored on his five catches for 89 yards in the win over the Texans for his second straight game with high yardage and a touchdown. And the last two weeks have been the best performances for Trevor Lawrence.

RB Rachaad White – He popped up on the injury report on Friday as questionable with a thigh injury. Apparently, the pain motivated him because he rushed for a season-high 100 yards and caught two short passes in the loss to the Colts.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson/Ezekiel Elliott – The Pats may not win again this season, as shocking as that seems. They used both Matt Jones and Bailey  Zappe in a race to who could throw the most interceptions (Jones won), but the rushing offense wasn’t a disaster. Stevenson (21-98, TD) and Elliott (9-46) were the only part of the offense that scored or gained much yardage. This week they play the Chargers which should benefit them again.

QB Tommy DeVito – He won his last two games and threw for 246 yards and three scores in Week 11. On Sunday, he passed for 191 yards and a touchdown. He also did what was thought impossible when he completed five passes to the rookie Jalin Hyatt, who gained 109 yards – the only 100-yard game by a Giants’ receiver this year.

WR Rashee Rice – The Chiefs desperately need a receiver not currently dating Taylor Swift to make a difference and Patrick Mahomes has already thrown passes to 12 wideouts. Rice has been the most consistent so far, logging around 50 yards and scoring in every other game. Versus the Raiders, he caught a season-best eight passes for 107 yards and a touchdown – the first 100-yard game by a wide receiver. Justin Watson scored for the last two weeks but with minimal yardage. Week 12 was the first time it looked like the Chiefs had an actual No. 1 wideout.

WR Jakobi Meyers – While Aiden O’Connell has continued to throw to Davante Adams, he had failed to connect with Meyers for more than a few catches and minimal yardage. Against a very tough Chiefs secondary, Meyers led the Raiders with six catches for 79 yards and a score. That bodes well for when they return from their Week 13 bye to face the weak defenses of the Vikings and Chargers.

TE Pat Freiermuth – He returned from the back injury in Week 11 after spending six weeks on injured reserve but only caught one pass for seven yards at the Browns. Playing for the first time without OC Matt Canada, Freiermuth posted a career-high nine catches for 120 yards in the win over the Bengals. He only had 13 receptions on the year entering Sunday. The Bengals are weak against the position, but Freiermuth had double the production of any other receiver.

RB Keaton Mitchell – He led the Ravens in rushing with nine carries for 64 yards, plus caught both targets for 25 more yards. The Ravens are committed to their committee backfield, but Mitchell is still generating  fantasy points even with the 11-touch workload.  That was one more carry than Gus Edwards and three more than Justice Hill.

Huddle player of the week

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

RB Kyren Williams  –  He spent time on injured reserve with an ankle injury and the Rams said they would have him on a snap count in his first game back. That limitation ended up as 16 carries for 143 yards, plus six receptions for 61 yards with two touchdowns as the No. 1 running back for Week 12. Royce Freeman also ran for 77 yards and a score on 13 carries, so they didn’t give him a “full” workload, just one that helped his fantasy owners win their game – if they ignored what the Rams coaches said before the game.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Jordan Love 268-39 3 QB Tua Tagovailoa 243-1 1
RB Kyren Williams 16-143
6-61
2 RB Kareem Hunt 7-22 0
RB Royce Freeman 13-77 1 RB Saquon Barkley 12-46
1-6
0
WR Rashee Rice 8-107 1 WR Adam Thielen 1-2 0
WR Gabe Davis 6-105 1 WR DK Metcalf 3-32 0
WR Jalin Hyatt 5-109 0 WR Puka Nacua 4-27 0
TE Pat Freiermuth 9-120 0 TE George Kittle 3-9 0
PK Blake Grupe   5 FG PK Matt Prater   zip
Huddle Fantasy Points = 220 Huddle Fantasy Points = 20

Now get back to work…

WATCH: Rhamondre Stevenson rumbles for first Patriots touchdown vs Giants

Rhamondre Stevenson got the Patriots on the board with this third-quarter touchdown.

The New England Patriots were having trouble moving the football against the New York Giants until the second half, when they were finally able to get things rolling.

Quarterback Bailey Zappe replaced Mac Jones to lead the team on their first touchdown drive, which ended with a run into the end zone by running back Rhamondre Stevenson.

Bailey Zappe completed five passes on the drive. His precision, as well as the balance of the run game, helped the Patriots get their first score of the afternoon. Stevenson carried the ball from 15 yards out and tied the game at seven to end the drive.

He showed off his physical running style in the process.

This appears to be a game where points are at a premium. Stevenson’s touchdown may loom large for the Patriots

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Giants vs. Patriots: 3 causes for concern in Week 12

The New York Giants square off in a Sunday afternoon battle against the New England Patriots in Week 12. Here are three reasons for concern.

The New York Giants enter Week 12 fresh off their third win of the season and now turn their attention to the New England Patriots.

The two teams, who are forever linked together because of the matchups in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, are both having down seasons.

With both teams out of any realistic playoff contention, most will be paying attention to this game given the 2024 NFL draft implications — each team is currently slated to pick in the top five.

Following the Giants’ win against the Washington Commanders, it will be telling to see how they follow up that performance.

Here are three causes for concern ahead of Sunday’s matchup at MetLife Stadium.

Ezekiel Elliott wants to see one specific change on offense

Should the Patriots feed Zeke and Rhamondre more on the ground?

Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts was a tough one for the New England Patriots. The offense struggled throughout the course of the game, and Ezekiel Elliott believes the Patriots should have run the ball more.

Elliott carried the ball 13 times for 54 yards, combining for a total of 33 carries for 142 yards with Rhamondre Stevenson. The ground game was an asset for New England, and it looks as though that may be the only stable portion of the offense.

New England ranks 26th in the league with 94.9 rushing yards per contest.

Elliott spoke to reporters about what he would want to see from the offense moving forward, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Dakota Randall.

“I don’t know,” said Elliott. “I think today we showed how good of a run game we have, and I think that we have two really good running backs. And I think that our O-line is great in the run game, and they showed that today. … I think we could run it more. But to do that, we got to take care of the football. We have to eliminate the penalties so we don’t have long distances. But the more we put ourselves in position to run the football, the better off this offense will be.”

The running game has been an asset for New England this season. The Patriots may need to focus on running the football, if they want to have any solid production from the offense. Time will tell what will happen, as the season continues to slip away.

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5 big takeaways from Patriots 10-6 loss vs Colts in Germany

5 big takeaways from the Patriots dropping their eighth loss of the season on Sunday to the Colts.

The New England Patriots traveled to Germany on Sunday to take on the Indianapolis Colts. It was a fitting game for a crowd used to low scoring “football,” as both teams combined for just one touchdown and four total scores throughout the contest.

And the 10-6 final scoreline reflected terribly on the Patriots. New England’s defense shut down the Indianapolis offense throughout the entire game, but just could not muster a shred of offense on their end to complement the defensive unit.

The game ultimately ended in an ugly manner for the Patriots, with quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe each throwing bad interceptions late in the game that sealed the loss for New England.

Here are five big takeaways from the game.

Studs and duds in Patriots’ ugly 10-6 loss to Colts in Germany

Studs and duds from the Patriots’ Week 10 loss in Germany.

The New England Patriots packed up their offensive problems and brought them along for the ride in Sunday’s head-to-head clash with the Indianapolis Colts in Germany.

A hopeful field goal drive to start the game devolved into one of the worst offensive performances of the season for the Patriots. They only mustered two field goals against a Colts defense that ranked as the third-worst in the NFL in points allowed heading into the game.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, the unit somehow managed to overcome missing team captain and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, along with other star playmakers, to hold the Colts’ top-10 scoring offense to only 10 points.

Here are the studs and duds from the game on Sunday:

Colts vs. Patriots: Key matchups to watch in Week 10

Key matchups to watch in Week 10.

The Indianapolis Colts (4-5) will be looking to gain some momentum heading into the bye week, but they first take on the New England Patriots (2-7) at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday.

The overseas games are always unpredictable in nature. Players are dealing with an entirely new environment while the jet lag from the flight over likely still lingers a bit. Most games come down to a few key matchups whether it’s a one-on-one battle or between position groups as a whole.

Here are the key matchups to watch in this Week 10 bout: