This is not the first time this season that the Patriots have given thought to benching Stevenson because of his ball security issues. After Stevenson fumbled in each of the first four games of the season -- losing two of them -- Antonio Gibson got the start at running back for New England in Week 5 against the Dolphins.

When the New England Patriots signed Rhamondre Stevenson to a four-year, $36 million contract extension in June, they made their intentions clear. The team under the new leadership of Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf viewed the young running back as a key piece of its offense moving forward.