Mike Vrabel Raves About Recently Signed Offensive Playmaker, Calls Him a Key Addition 🚨
The New England Patriots are on fire, as they will be looking to earn their sixth-straight win in Week 9 when they take on the Atlanta Falcons. However, they will be without their top running back, Rhamondre Stevenson, which has forced Mike Vrabel and the rest of the coaching staff to adapt.
Despite dealing with a slew of fumbling issues, Stevenson has remained the Pats’ top running back this season. After missing practice all week with a toe injury, though, Stevenson was ruled out for this game on Friday.
That leaves TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings as the top options at running back, with D’Ernest Johnson also getting elevated off the practice squad on Saturday. It’s not exactly an inspiring group, as Henderson has experienced some rookie struggles, while Jennings only recently got signed to the active roster off the practice squad.
Ever since Antonio Gibson suffered a torn ACL back in Week 5, Jennings has been getting elevated to the active roster from the practice squad to fill in as the team’s No. 3 running back. Now that’s officially on the roster, and Stevenson is injured, Jennings’ role is set to expand, and ahead of this game, Vrabel issued some strong praise for Jennings.
“He’s a great teammate,” Vrabel said of Jennings. “He cares about his teammates. He plays hard, unselfish, he runs hard, and I think he’s improved. He’s improved his skill set … He’s taken advantage of his opportunities … Excited to see him continue to play.”
Jennings has played sparingly during his three games this season, as he has just seven carries for 33 yards. With more snaps set to come his way, though, Jennings has a great shot to prove he can handle a bigger workload moving forward.
Henderson figures to handle the bulk of the workload out of the backfield, but Jennings should be featured as well. Kickoff for New England’s upcoming game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon, with the team looking to push its record to 7-2.
DK Metcalf Expresses Frustration with Steelers' Offense After Win Over Browns
The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to earn their first win in the AFC North of the 2025 season on Sunday as the team took down the Cleveland Browns by a score of 23-9. Both sides of the ball played great for the Steelers as the defense did not allow Cleveland to find the end zone, and the offense was able to move down the field to produce five scoring drives. Pittsburgh's offense wasn't able to find the end zone until the second half as Chris Boswell was relied upon to hit three field goals throughout the first 30 minutes of game time.
Pittsburgh's offense relying on field goals is a common theme over the last several seasons. It still leads to points on the board, but the team would like for Boswell to be kicking more extra points and less field goals. Wide receiver DK Metcalf spoke to the media following the win over Cleveland, and he was asked about the offense. He noted some clear lulls from the group, while also showing appreciation to the defensive side of the ball.
"We keep finding different ways to win." Metcalf said. "The defense keeps keeping us in games whenever we lull through the first half like we did today. I think we just playing complimentary ball on both ends."
Metcalf's comments show that the offense expects more from itself. He and the rest of the group were probably frustrated with being forced to kick three field goals early on, which is why he shouted out the defense for keeping the Browns offense in check. The defense was certainly responsible for allowing Pittsburgh to enter halftime with a 9-3 lead.
Metcalf doesn't seem to be frustrated with his role within the offense, but he does seem to wish the group could put some more points on the board so the defense didn't have to bear so much weight on its shoulders. Metcalf's side of the ball came alive in the second half as the group was able to find the end zone two times, both through the air.
Aaron Rodgers played well in the win for Pittsburgh as the quarterback finished with 235 yards and two touchdown passes. One of those scores went to Metcalf, who was able to haul in a 25-yard touchdown near the start of the fourth quarter. This gave Pittsburgh a 23-6 lead, and it all but secured the victory for the Steelers as the Browns could only muster up three more points in the game.
Metcalf finished with a score as he accounted for 95 yards on four receptions. Every time the receiver touches the ball good things seem to happen for the Steelers, and many fans want to see the ball thrown his way more often.
Steelers' Metcalf Is Quietly Having A Very Good Season In Pittsburgh
Metcalf hasn't necessarily seen a high volume of targets, but he is making the most of his opportunities. He entered the Week 5 matchup with 15 receptions for three scores and 261 yards, and he added to all of those numbers significantly in the win. His touchdown on Sunday against Cleveland marked his fourth consecutive game with a score, which is a career high for the veteran wideout.
Metcalf's involvement in the offense should continue to increase, but Rodgers spoke about how the offense is facing a lot of two-high safety coverage. This makes it difficult to get the ball down the field to Metcalf, but the duo found ways to make that happen on Sunday.
