Patriots Running Back Jonas Gray's Reliable Day; Named AFC's Offensive Player of the Week

The NFL has announced that Patriots running back Jonas Gray has been named the AFC's Offensive Player of the Week. Gray carried the ball 37 times for 201 yards and four touchdowns, marking the first time a running back picked up 200+ yards on the ground for the 2014 season.

Gray was the first player in the post-merger NFL to run for 200+ yards, score 4+ touchdowns, and not see a single receiving target. It was truly a historic performance.

How great was the day? Gray ran the ball fifteen times when the Patriots needed six or fewer yards (ex: 2nd down and 6 yards to go). He converted thirteen times.

That's 13/15. From six yards out. One of his non-conversions was a 2nd and 5 from the Colts 8 yard line where he picked up four yards; he picked up the first down on the subsequent 3rd and 1 play. The Patriots scored on a pass to Tim Wright on the next play.

Gray converted all of his third down conversion attempts. He received nine carries inside the Colts 10 yard line and converted seven for first downs or touchdowns- and the two non-conversions were both followed up by a Gray first down or touchdown. He became the short yardage specialist that the Patriots needed.

Congratulations to Gray for such a great accomplishment.