ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Halfway through the 2018 season, James White is the Patriots’ MVP.
And it’s not close.
In a year where Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski have been in and out of the lineup, Josh Gordon is still learning the intricacies of the passing game and the running back depth chart has seemingly gotten thinner every week, White has been as dependable as they come. And while Tom Brady, Stephen Gilmore and Trey Flowers (and others) have all had moments of brilliance over the first half of the 2018 season, it’s been a steady and consistent White who has proven himself to be the most valuable part of a team that has now won five straight.
“James is Mr. Do It Right,” wide receiver Julian Edelman explained after Monday’s win over the Bills, a game where White scored the only offensive touchdown of the night and provided multiple third-down pickups, moving the chains against a feisty Buffalo defense.
Against the Bills, as he finished with a team-high 10 catches for 79 yards. He also added 15 rushing yards, as well as the only offensive touchdown of the game on a fourth-quarter plunge from the 1-yard line.
While the touchdown was big, the play that was perhaps the most emblematic of what he’s been able to bring to the offense over the first eight games of the season came early in the fourth quarter. With the Patriots facing 3rd and eight near midfield — and with Edelman and Gronkowski also on the field as options for the quarterback — Brady went to White for a 9-yard pickup that moved the chains and got them into position for an eventual touchdown … by White.
Typical James White sequence: Not overly flashy, but with the game in the balance, he did the right thing and made the important play at an incredibly important time. It’s not coincidental that no player on the team has accounted for more first downs through the first eight games than White.
“It was a great play by James,” said quarterback Tom Brady. “We had something behind it, and he kind of got a little depth, so we had some space to it. But he’s such a great space player — when he gets the ball in his hands, to make a linebacker miss and get the yards, (that) was a huge play.”
Brady to White for 9 yards on 3rd & 8!! pic.twitter.com/8aEHA3SCsh
— New Account (@ftbeard_17) October 30, 2018