Stevenson rushed 25 times for 120 yards and a touchdown while bringing in all three targets for six yards in the Patriots' 16-10 win over the Bengals on Sunday. He also recovered a fumble.
At least for Week 1, new Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo was able to play his preferred brand of football, with game script allowing Stevenson to function in an old-school workhorse role to help grind out a low-scoring victory. Stevenson was able to rip off chunk gains throughout the afternoon, and he found pay dirt for his first touchdown of the campaign on a three-yard run to open the second quarter. Antonio Gibson took only seven carries as the No. 2 running back, clearly delineating the pecking order in New England's ground attack. Stevenson will look to replicate the stellar 2024 debut when he tangles with the Seahawks at home Week 2.