TAMPA, Fla. — Veteran receiver Stefon Diggs’ motivational phrases to TreVeyon Henderson helped spark the rookie operating again’s breakout efficiency that included landing runs of 55 and 69 yards, because the visiting New England Patriots beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-23 on Sunday.
“I’m positively laborious on TreVeyon as a result of I see a lot potential,” Diggs mentioned. “I’ve been round some nice backs in my profession and I used to be telling him, ‘These nice backs don’t get tackled, and I wish to see you rating.’ So him coming on the market and busting two of them, it’s good to be laborious on folks, I assume.”
Henderson responded to Diggs’ halftime pep discuss along with his 55-yard scoring run at the beginning of the third quarter, then added the 69-yarder late within the fourth to assist put away the sport. He grew to become the primary participant in Patriots historical past to report two landing runs of greater than 50 yards in the identical sport. A second-round choose (No. 38) out of Ohio State, he completed with a career-high 147 yards on 14 carries.
“He retains me motivated — he actually does. He’s such an important chief on this subject,” Henderson mentioned of Diggs. “He will get all the blokes going. He’s at all times in my ear, however he retains me motivated.”
With rookie large receiver Kyle Williams additionally delivering a 72-yard catch-and-run landing on the finish of the primary quarter, the Patriots acquired much-needed contributions from two of their youngest gamers.
Williams had an expanded function because the workforce was with out beginning receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), whereas Henderson stepped up for the second straight week rather than Rhamondre Stevenson (toe).
“We’re going to want all people all through this season,” coach Mike Vrabel mentioned. “Two explosive performs [from Henderson] and Kyle’s play early, we actually wanted that one. That was the one which we have been speaking about — simply needing one play and he hit it, and it was nice to see him have that success.”
Williams had entered the day having totaled two receptions for 20 yards on the season.
The velocity of Henderson and Williams on every landing was notable.
Williams reached a high velocity of 21.78 mph on his landing, which was the quickest by a rookie ball service this season, based on NFL NextGenStats. However Henderson later broke that mark when he reached a high velocity of twenty-two.01 mph on his scoring run on the opening drive of the second half.
Henderson then hit 21.38 mph on the ultimate landing. Collectively, they have been the three quickest max speeds by any rookie ball service within the NFL this season, and the three quickest by any Patriots participant on a landing since Subsequent Gen started monitoring in 2016.
The three scrimmage touchdowns reaching at the least 20 mph are tied for probably the most by any workforce in a sport since Subsequent Gen started monitoring. It’s the seventh such occasion, and first because the 2023 Miami Dolphins had three of their 70-20 blowout of the Denver Broncos in Week 3 of the 2023 season.
“Kyle and TreVeyon, in the event that they get going, you’re not catching them,” mentioned quarterback Drake Maye, who completed 16-of-31 for 270 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Henderson credited the blocking in entrance of him for the lengthy runs.
“They opened it up actually [well]. My largest factor is to be decisive and hit it as soon as I see it,” he mentioned. “I thank the blokes up entrance for taking good care of the soiled work.”
In the meantime, Williams defined how he approached the week, saying: “We at all times say you put together as a starter and I actually took that to coronary heart this week as a result of I knew what was at stake. Once you get a chance, you’re not promised one other one. So for me it was simply benefiting from it each time it got here.”
The Patriots (8-2) host the New York Jets (2-7) on Thursday.
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