Dion Lewis could make Patriots even more dangerous

This is just what the rest of the NFL needs to hear. Patriots running back Dion Lewis likely will return to practice this week.

#Patriots RB Dion Lewis (knee) expected back at practice this week, source said, starting his 21-day window for activation. He's doing well

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 26, 2016

In seven games last season, the 5’9″, 195-pound Lewis ran for 234 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He also caught 36 passes for 388 yards and two touchdowns.

Lewis tore his ACL in Week 9, and in August needed a second “cleanup” surgery. The 26-year-old began this season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

LeGarrette Blount has shouldered most of the running back load for the Patriots. He’s run for 566 yards while James White has been the complementary pass-catching back.

With a healthy Lewis last season, the Patriots put up more than 400 yards of offense five times in the first eight games and went 8-0. Their average margin of victory in those games was 16.7 points.

After Lewis went down, the Patriots went 4-4 the rest of the way and had just two 400-yard games. Their average point differential was just over two points.

The Patriots (6-1) seem to be doing fine without Lewis this year and he’ll probably have to earn his job back. But considering how much more important the games become in the second half of the season, not to mention the playoffs, the Patriots should just book Gillette Stadium for the AFC championship game now if Lewis provides their offense with the same kind of boost that he did last season.