The New England Patriots are playing out another lost season as the team will miss the playoffs for the third straight year. New England entered Week 17 with a 3-12 record. The disappointing campaign has first-year head coach Jerod Mayo on the hot seat.

Stevenson won't start at running back for the Patriots in Saturday's game against the Chargers ... but his ball security issues could lead to Gibson logging a higher percentage of of New England's backfield snaps than usual in Week 17.

PM ET on NFL Network, sportsbooks have issued player prop bet markets on Rhamondre Stevenson. Stevenson’s New England Patriots (3-12) and

Stevenson powered his way through tackles and rumbled into the end zone from 14 yards out for the score. The drive itself took nine plays, 91 yards and 9:57 off the clock. It was Stevenson’s seventh rushing touchdown of the season.

Rhamondre Stevenson might not be considered the Patriots' feature back by head coach Jerod Mayo, but that's only reduced his rushing yards total to a more appealing number. Neil Parker is targeting the Over for Stevenson vs. the Chargers.

After rookie quarterback Drake Maye hit second-year wideout Kayshon Boutte to put New England up 7-0 in the first quarter, the Patriots controlled the time-of-possession early into the second. And, on a first-and-goal run from the 14-yard line, Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson ran up the middle, broke tackles and found the end zone.

Downfield, the Pats will face tough matchups across the board, none tougher than Derwin James. The All-Pro safety plays all over Los Angeles’ zone-heavy defense, disguising blitzes and coverages. Maye will need to steer clear of James, while looking for his favorite targets in Hunter Henry, DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte.

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo explained the decision to start Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Los Angeles Chargers. The New England Patriots are enduring a challenging NFL season, officially eliminated from playoff contention and struggling to produce positive results.

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo left everyone a bit baffled Saturday with his handling of the team’s running back situation. Mayo said before Saturday’s game that Rhamondre Stevenson would be benched to start Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo didn't have much to say about a head-scratching decision involving his running backs Saturday vs. the Chargers.

-- The boo birds came out almost immediately after Jacoby Brissett came into the game in relief of Maye. They started when Antonio Gibson got stuffed on a first-down run. It got worse when Brissett missed a third-down pass to Pop Douglas.