Pats have another Mr. Perfect
HOUSTON — Dion Lewis knows the statistic, but he’s not putting much stock in it.
The Patriots are 16-0 with Lewis in the lineup over the past two years.
“I don’t make nothing of it,” the Patriots running back said Thursday. “I’ll let you guys make whatever you want to out of it. It’s just a coincidence. That’s what I believe. I’m just happy to be playing with my teammates again.”
Lewis has been limited to 16 games over the past two years because of a nasty knee injury interrupting things. He suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9 of the 2015 season just as he was beginning to emerge for New England. He then suffered a setback last summer that required a second surgery to repair a fractured patella.
Lewis did not return for the Patriots this season until Week 10 and did not get back into the regular rotation until December.
“It’s been a long journey,” Lewis said. “I’m happy to be where I am now. I’m just soaking it all in, trying to take it day-by-day still until after this game and then hopefully, we can win and I can reflect. Until then, day-by-day.”
The Patriots are the fourth team Lewis has been on. He was selected by the Eagles in the fifth round in 2011 out of Pittsburgh. The Eagles traded him to the Browns in the spring of 2013, but he missed that season with a broken leg. The Browns cut him, and Lewis landed with the Colts in September 2014, but was cut a week later. The Patriots signed him to a reserve contract after the 2014 season.
Lewis had a monster game against the Texans in the AFC Divisional round last month. He became the first player in postseason history to score a touchdown rushing, receiving and on a kick return in the same game.
New England is known for taking castoffs from other teams and getting the best out of them. Lewis is another one.
“We compete here,” Lewis said. “Everybody is competing. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you were drafted. When everybody is competing, coaches tell you what is expected and you just have to go out and do it. Everything is pretty much in your hands.”