Running backs help power Patriots' passing game in win over Chargers

FOXBOROUGH — The bye week is always a chance to hit the pause button on the season, but the Patriots’ running backs are maybe the last positional group on the roster that’s looking for a break right now.

For the second consecutive week, the New England running backs provided a sizable portion of the offense, specifically the passing game. Against the Chargers, James White, Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead combined for an impressive 163 receiving yards as the Patriots captured their fourth straight win and went into the bye week with a 6-2 mark.

“We had a lot of production out of our running backs,” said Bill Belichick following Sunday’s win over Los Angeles. “They all had a role. They all were productive for us. They all helped us a lot: running and catching, blitz pickup, kickoff return, so those guys did a great job. They did a good job for us last week and they did it again this week, too.”

Burkhead led the way with seven catches (on seven targets) for 68 yards, while White (five catches, six targets, 85 yards) and Lewis (two catches, two targets, 10 yards) chipped in as needed. While all three had big moments on Sunday, it was White who continued to come up big time and again: Three of his five catches came on third down, and he played a big role in moving the chains for the Patriots.



“We knew there were going to be opportunities for the running backs in the passing game,” said Lewis, who also chipped in with a 71-yard kick return at the start of the second half. “Guys definitely made a lot of plays when they got that opportunity.”

“We have a lot of different guys who can do a lot of different things,” said White, who is now on pace to be just the third back in franchise history with at least 60 catches and 60 carries in a season. “I think Coach McDaniels does a great job putting the game plan in, and the guys do a good job trusting that game plan, and it shows up out there, We knew we’d have opportunities as backs in the passing game, and I think a lot of different guys caught the ball and got us a bunch of yards to help us.”

Through eight games, White leads the team with 43 catches, while Burkhead (12 catches) is sixth, and Lewis (10 catches) is seventh. Those numbers should continue on an upward arc for a few reasons over the course of the second half of the year, not the least of which is the fact they have all earned a spot in Tom Brady’s circle of trust, and all three remain matchup nightmares, especially when they’re opposite a linebacker.

“They’ve done a great job,” said quarterback Tom Brady, who found the backs with 14 of his 32 receptions Sunday against Los Angeles. “All of them catch the ball well. You know, every back on the roster we have does a great job in the pass game.

“They’re making a lot of yards when the ball’s in their hands. Again, if they drop deep, you’ve got to throw it short. If they’re short, you’ve got to throw it deep, and you just play that game with the defense all day. But, our backs did a great job.”

“We have a diverse group,” said Lewis. “Those guys are really good at catching the ball. We’re going to try and use the matchup to our advantage (every week).”

There’s something to momentum. But according to Burkhead, there’s also something to getting a breather, even for the most productive positional group on the roster.

“The bye week is aways a good thing, just to get refreshed mentally (and) physically,” he said. “We understand we’re not where we need to be as a team. We have a long way to go. The most important part of the season is coming up.”