The Patriots used to find a way to win close games back in the day. Not anymore. Now they go out of their way to lose close games. It has become a way of life for them in 2022.

Rhamondre Stevenson has been the Patriots best offensive player this season but he has also become the face of the team’s inability to win games late.

From the ill-advised lateral against the Raiders to fumbling in the red zone with under a minute left on Saturday, Stevenson’s recent penchant for making mistakes under pressure is everything that is wrong with this Patriots team right now.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not blaming Stevenson solely for the team’s problems the past few weeks but he is the team’s primary playmaker right now and they cannot count on him when the game is on the line.

There is no doubt that Bill Belichick and the coaching staff trusts Stevenson, as do his teammates but at some point, that trust will wane unless Stevenson does something to earn it back.

After the game, Stevenson said he was trying to do too much and that is why the fumble occurred.

“Got the ball, was trying to make something happen. Probably doing more than I was supposed to do. Probably should have just went down. Ultimately they took the ball from me and I fumbled.”

Stevenson seems to have the right temperament when it comes to dealing with adversity but at some point he also has to realize that he is doing too much and in the process, he is hurting the team.

Stevenson has the potential to be a top five running back in the NFL but until he realizes that he cannot do it all, he will hurt his team more than help it.

The Patriots will need Stevenson and the rest of the skill group to step up and perform when the game is on line. No more looking like a young player. It is time and the rest of this skill group to grow up and play like veterans. Not first or second year players. If they don’t, then the season is officially over.