Rhamondre Stevenson is single-handedly keeping the Patriots' defense respectable. He's forced 24 missed tackles in seven games—accounting for a staggering 53.3% of all missed tackles the team has generated. That's not a compliment. That's a cry for help.
When one running back is responsible for more than half your defensive disruption through the passing game, your skill position players are failing you. Drake Maye ranks second with just 7 missed tackles forced. The gap isn't just wide; it's an indictment. Stevenson is elite at breaking tackles and making defenders miss in space. But he shouldn't have to carry the entire offensive load defensively—that's not his job description.
Here's what this stat really tells us: The Patriots' receivers and running backs aren't winning leverage battles, aren't creating separation, and aren't generating the kind of explosive plays that keep defenses honest. They're not forcing missed tackles because they're not getting into positions to do so. Stevenson is the exception because he's built different—he falls forward, sheds arm tackles, and operates like a 230-pound bowling ball. Everyone else? Not enough to move the needle.
Mike Vrabel and his staff are competing right now, and that's admirable. But this roster needs its skill players to elevate. Stevenson can't be the answer to every question. Through seven games, the supporting cast hasn't stepped up enough, and the stat sheet proves it. If the Patriots want to sustain what they're building, the playmakers around Stevenson need to start forcing defenses to account for them too.