The New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons are set to face off in Foxboro this weekend. The Patriots are looking for their sixth win in a row, while the Falcons are looking to get back to .500 and stay alive in the NFC playoff race.
Ahead of this matchup, Falcons’ defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was asked about the Patriots’ offense. Ulbrich was especially complimentary of Rhamondre Stevenson, and the coach even compared him to an NFL great.
“He is a hard tackle,” Ulbrich said on Wednesday, via Carlos A. Lopez. “Being with the New York Jets and playing him twice a year, he felt to me like Marshawn Lynch 2.0, tough, rugged, physical. We’re gonna have to play our most physical game.”
Getting compared to Marshawn Lynch is probably one of the best compliments you can give a running back. Lynch rushed for over 10,000 yards in his career while earning five Pro Bowl selections and twice leading the league in rushing scores. Lynch also won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seattle Seahawks.
The comparison isn’t totally without merit. Like Lynch, Stevenson is a bruising, downhill runner who makes defenders pay and is deadly near the goal line. There has been some frustration with Stevenson’s inconsistency and fumbling, but for the most part, he’s been a reliable back for the Patriots.
So far in 2025, Stevenson has played in all eight games and has rushed 83 times for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Stevenson has also helped out in the pass game with 16 catches for 169 yards.
Although, Ulbrich may not have to worry about facing off against Stevenson in Week 9. The veteran missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a toe injury. If Stevenson can’t go, rookie TreVeyon Henderson would likely get the bulk of the carries this weekend.
Henderson has yet to break out, but he did have his best game of the season last week against the Cleveland Browns.