FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Running back LeGarrette Blount had been the last New England Patriots to leave the locker room at Heinz Field following Sunday's victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, as he packed away the jersey of close pal Le'Veon Bell after they two made an exchange on the field.
Moments earlier, Blount pretty much couldn't stop smiling.
"I'm having a blast," he said.
Who wouldn't be based on the way he's playing?
Blount has been one of the Patriots' most consistent performers during the team's 6-1 start, as his hard-charging, sometimes-elusive running ensured the club would enter Sunday's road game against the Buffalo Bills (4-3) on a winning note. For his part, he said he's not "counting numbers."
He's missing out, however, because they are impressive.
Start with the eight touchdowns. If he keeps up this pace, Blount will put his name atop the Patriots' record books. The Patriots record for most rushing touchdowns in a season is 14 by Curtis Martin (in 1995 and 1996). Blount's previous season high was seven, set in 2013 with the Patriots.
In all, Blount has totaled 143 carries for 566 yards (4.0 avg.), with quarterback Tom Brady lauding his deceptive quickness and agility for a running back his size, as well as his ability to make yards after contact. Blount has had three games of 100-plus rushing yards this season, upping his career total to 13.
"It's always fun to run the football. As a running back, you're going to always want the football," he said, making sure to credit the blocking in front of him, as always.
The Patriots have been happy to give it to him, as 2016 has been different in the sense that there is no committee at the position. So Blount has been leaned on heavily as the lead option.
"He's always been able to do that," reminded coach Bill Belichick. "I mean, you go back to the Buffalo game a couple of years ago when he was carrying the whole team on his back and returning kickoffs. He's just a runner with good size, good athletic ability and good ball security. I'm glad we have him, glad we are able to give the ball to him with some volume and he's been productive."
Blount has played 256 offensive snaps this season, which is a 54 percent clip.
Through seven games last season, he had played 118, or 23.8 percent.
So he's basically doubled the workload, and more important for the Patriots, the production.
"He practices hard and takes care of his body," offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. "He tries to do the things that are necessary to make sure that he continues to feel good as the season progresses, like all good backs are going to have to do. The guys are getting tackled 15, 18, 20, 25 times a game. They take a lot of hits and it requires a lot of time and effort to make sure that you're ready to go each week. He certainly has done his job when we've asked him to do that."