The Patriots sure like using LeGarrette Blount around the goal line. He scored 13 rushing touchdowns inside the 5-yard line, the most of anybody in the last seven years. He also had 29 carries in that part of the field, tying for the most since 2010.
With the likes of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, have passing ability, but they also can and will run it. That helped make Blount one of the most reliable touchdown scorers in the regular season.
Here are the numbers from the last seven years, with all players with at least 15 carries. For touchdowns, if the player scored any 2-point conversions, they’re also noted.
Only two people have scored 12-plus rushing touchdowns (inside the 5) in the last seven years, and they both came from last season – Blount and David Johnson.
| RUSHING INSIDE THE 5 (since 2010) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | EZ% |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 29 | 26 | .9 | 13 | 44.8% |
| 2012 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 29 | 42 | 1.4 | 11 | 37.9% |
| 2011 | Michael Turner, Atl. | 28 | 31 | 1.1 | 9 | 32.1% |
| 2010 | Michael Turner, Atl. | 26 | 20 | .8 | 10 | 38.5% |
| 2013 | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 26 | 30 | 1.2 | 10 | 38.5% |
| 2016 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 25 | 39 | 1.6 | 12 | 48.0% |
| 2010 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 22 | 23 | 1.0 | 10 | 45.5% |
| 2011 | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 22 | 20 | .9 | 9 | 40.9% |
| 2012 | Michael Turner, Atl. | 22 | 14 | .6 | 7 | 31.8% |
| 2010 | Rashard Mendenhall, Pitt. | 21 | 27 | 1.3 | 10 | 47.6% |
| 2011 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis, N.E. | 21 | 23 | 1.1 | 9 | 42.9% |
| 2011 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 21 | 18 | .9 | 8 | 38.1% |
| 2010 | Cedric Benson, Cin. | 21 | 19 | .9 | 6+1 | 33.3% |
| 2010 | Mike Tolbert, S.D. | 20 | 28 | 1.4 | 10+1 | 55.0% |
| 2016 | Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 20 | 13 | .7 | 9 | 45.0% |
| 2012 | Stevan Ridley, N.E. | 20 | 5 | .3 | 8 | 40.0% |
| 2014 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 20 | 15 | .8 | 7 | 35.0% |
| 2011 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 20 | 19 | 1.0 | 6 | 30.0% |
| 2016 | Matt Asiata, Minn. | 20 | 20 | 1.0 | 6 | 30.0% |
| 2016 | Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 19 | 25 | 1.3 | 7+2 | 47.4% |
| 2011 | Rashard Mendenhall, Pitt. | 19 | 18 | .9 | 7 | 36.8% |
| 2012 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 19 | 20 | 1.1 | 6+1 | 36.8% |
| 2012 | Shonn Greene, NYJ | 19 | 23 | 1.2 | 7 | 36.8% |
| 2013 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 19 | 20 | 1.1 | 7 | 36.8% |
| 2016 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 19 | 13 | .7 | 7 | 36.8% |
| 2010 | Chris Johnson, Tenn. | 19 | 15 | .8 | 5 | 26.3% |
| 2015 | DeAngelo Williams, Pitt. | 18 | 21 | 1.2 | 10 | 55.6% |
| 2010 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 18 | 21 | 1.2 | 9 | 50.0% |
| 2013 | Fred Jackson, Buff. | 18 | 28 | 1.6 | 7 | 38.9% |
| 2011 | Mike Tolbert, S.D. | 18 | 15 | .8 | 5 | 27.8% |
| 2012 | Doug Martin, T.B. | 18 | 17 | .9 | 5 | 27.8% |
| 2015 | Chris Ivory, NYJ | 18 | 9 | .5 | 5 | 27.8% |
| 2015 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 17 | 23 | 1.4 | 9+1 | 58.8% |
| 2013 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 17 | 20 | 1.2 | 9 | 52.9% |
| 2014 | Matt Asiata, Minn. | 17 | 30 | 1.8 | 7+2 | 52.9% |
| 2014 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 17 | 19 | 1.1 | 9 | 52.9% |
| 2016 | Latavius Murray, Oak. | 17 | 18 | 1.1 | 9 | 52.9% |
| 2011 | Michael Bush, Oak. | 17 | 19 | 1.1 | 7 | 41.2% |
| 2013 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 17 | 19 | 1.1 | 4+1 | 29.4% |
| 2011 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 17 | 8 | .5 | 4 | 23.5% |
| 2016 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 16 | 15 | .9 | 9 | 56.3% |
| 2011 | Arian Foster, Hou. | 16 | 27 | 1.7 | 7 | 43.8% |
| 2013 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 16 | 20 | 1.3 | 7 | 43.8% |
| 2013 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 16 | 20 | 1.3 | 7 | 43.8% |
| 2016 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 16 | 19 | 1.2 | 6 | 37.5% |
| 2015 | Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 16 | 6 | .4 | 4 | 25.0% |
| 2010 | Marion Barber, Dall. | 16 | 14 | .9 | 3 | 18.8% |
| 2010 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis, N.E. | 15 | 21 | 1.4 | 8 | 53.3% |
| 2013 | Matt Forte, Chi. | 15 | 23 | 1.5 | 6+1 | 46.7% |
| 2013 | Knowshon Moreno, Den. | 15 | 23 | 1.5 | 7 | 46.7% |
| 2014 | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 15 | 28 | 1.9 | 7 | 46.7% |
| 2016 | DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 15 | 13 | .9 | 7 | 46.7% |
| 2010 | Thomas Jones, K.C. | 15 | 20 | 1.3 | 5 | 33.3% |
| 2010 | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 15 | 0 | .0 | 5 | 33.3% |
| 2013 | Willis McGahee, Clev. | 15 | 0 | .0 | 2 | 13.3% |
—Ian Allan