The New England Patriots hear “the noise” from the outside under Mike Vrabel.
In defeat, they respond with anger to it. In victory, they publicly celebrate it through their social media.
Enter tight end Hunter Henry, who at age 31 was off to one of the slowest starts of his career.
Concerns that Henry might be done began to surface in print and in social media as the 11-year veteran had just nine catches on 12 targets for 107 yards through three games with no touchdowns.
Huge effort vs. Bills
Henry still hasn’t hit the end zone. But the Arkansas product had his best game of the year in Buffalo on Sunday, catching all five balls thrown his way for 62 yards.
It was a statement performance that Henry, who inked a two-year, $16 million extension in August that will keep him in New England through 2028, needed. He let the world know that he is still a factor.
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Four of Henry’s five catches moved the chains, including his game-clincher on third-and-10 in which he ran away from 23-year-old Bills’ starting safety Cole Bishop.
“I knew when they made the call, it was coming to me,” said Henry on his Monday stint with Jones and Keefe on WEEI-FM.
Injuries making him more valuable
Given the current state of its receiving corps with A.J. Brown on injured reserve and Mack Hollins leaving Sunday’s game with a non-contact leg injury, Henry’s performance becomes more and more pivotal.
Henry played 64 percent (49 total) of the offensive snaps on Sunday, and backup Eli Raridon played 44 percent of the snaps. New England has been very fond of the two-tight sets as it continues to attempt to establish a consistent running attack.
This football team needs Henry’s top game.
The final play was very similar to the game-clinching (negatively) play in Seattle when Drake Maye through his third interception.
This time, though, Henry sold his block off the line and cleanly beat his man on the release.
He was athletic and looked young again. So much for the whispers about his demise.
