The New England Patriots managed to pick up their sixth-straight win in Week 9, as they defeated the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 24-23. An unexpected star in this win was running back Terrell Jennings, who was filling in for the injured Rhamondre Stevenson.
While TreVeyon Henderson led the way in the Patriots’ running back room, Jennings chipped in as the No. 2 option behind him after getting signed from the practice squad to the active roster earlier in the week. With more touches coming his way, Jennings racked up 35 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while also catching one pass for nine more yards.
The touchdown was the first of Jennings’ career, and he’s had to put in quite a bit of work in order to accomplish that major goal. After the game, Jennings opened up on just how much that touchdown meant to him.
“I seen the hole, and as soon as I touched the end zone, I just praised the lord,” Jennings said when speaking to reporters. “I’m thanking God in my head like, ‘Thank you, God.’ This is what I play the game for, to get in the end zone. And my teammates being there, that made this whole experience better.”
Jennings hasn’t exactly had an easy road to the NFL, but he’s become a trusted option out of the backfield in the wake of Antonio Gibson’s season-ending injury. In fact, you can make a case that Jennings’ emergence is the main reason the Patriots didn’t acquire another running back at the trade deadline.
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Stevenson could return to action in Week 10, but Jennings figures to be a key piece of the Patriots’ rushing attack moving forward, one way or another. New England will take on the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10, with kickoff for this game scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
