After Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled two times in the New England Patriots 21-14 defeat on Sunday, head coach Mike Vrabel backed his lead back: “We need him.”

Hearing that message, Stevenson knew that came with one major qualifier.

“If I can’t hold onto the ball, they don’t need me,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson, who fumbled a league-high seven times last season, lost his first on New England’s opening drive of the game as he was stripped by linebacker Cole Holcomb. As the Steelers scored just eight plays later, Stevenson did not record another touch until the second quarter and largely played just third downs.

His next fumble then came with New England along the goal line looking for the game-tying touchdown, as Cameron Hayward stripped the ball lose which Pittsburgh recovered in the end zo

See Full Page