
The New England Patriots offense has seen significant improvement this season, but their loss against the Chicago Bears exposed some areas for development. Last week, the Patriots struggled to hold up in pass protection and on the ground, which are two things needed if they want to compete in the AFC. Although many fans may want New England to pursue trades to address these issues, two adjustments could help the offense without requiring any major roster move.
Through the first seven weeks of the season, New England’s starting right tackle, Morgan Moses, has only allowed 11 pressures and a QB hit on 376 snaps. While his production in pass protection doesn’t exactly show a decline, his diminished physical ability does. So far this season, he has struggled against explosive pass rushers that can beat him around the edge.
With Moses’ physical decline, he is having trouble sealing off the edge, thus resulting in him committing penalties. He’s been flagged six times, the most by any Patriots offensive lineman, with three false starts and three holding penalties. Those infractions have cost New England 45 yards, as they are creating more obstacles for the offense to sustain drives.
Considering these concerns, New England has to make a change at RT by elevating Caleb Lomu to a starting role. Selected 28th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Lomu has displayed his potential as a starting RT. On 130 snaps, he has only allowed three pressures without being penalized. Though he has a smaller sample size than Moses, his emerging production provides reason for the move. Starting Lomu could improve the Patriots’ pass protection for Drake Maye while accelerating the rookie’s development.
When TreVeyon Henderson returned from injury in Week 2, he looked to compete for a larger role in the offense. He rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries, including an explosive 39-yard gain against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been very productive since then, only recording 127 yards on 36 carries in the last five games. Given his decline on the ground, he has also gradually seen fewer attempts, as he only received four carries last week against the Bears.
One major concern for Henderson’s recent performances is his inability to identify rushing lanes consistently. He has shown a tendency to bounce runs outside unnecessarily and commit to paths before lanes have opened up, limiting his opportunities to gain yards. This issue was on display against Chicago, as his decisions prevented him from being more productive on the ground.
This is a play where TreVeyon Henderson just needs to be a tad more patient.
— Matthew Lanzarotto (@MattLanzarotto) October 23, 2026
The hole is there between Eli Raridon and Will Campbell.
He didn't need to bounce this outside, and this is one of the big struggles he's had is with his vision. It's gonna keep him off the field at… pic.twitter.com/MG0n1vRcZ2
Given Henderson’s recent struggles, Corey Kiner should take over as New England’s RB2. Kiner has recorded 151 yards on 35 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per carry this season. In each of the last three games, he has had more attempts and gained more yards than Henderson, giving him the edge when comparing their recent production. While Henderson is more explosive, the Patriots offense should give Kiner more opportunities, as he could help the team establish a consistent running game.
The Patriots offense has improved over the course of the season, but these two adjustments can help the unit take another step without moving any assets. Promoting Lomu to starting RT could secure pass protection on the right side and reduce costly penalties. Meanwhile, elevating Kiner to the RB2 role could create a more consistent rushing attack that doesn’t solely rely on Rhamondre Stevenson. With New England preparing for their matchup against the Miami Dolphins, making these two changes could give the offense a better chance to succeed in Week 8.
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