ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Quarterback Drake Maye delivered his signature NFL win with clutch play down the stretch, and large receiver Stefon Diggs was sensational in an emotional return to western New York, because the New England Patriots shocked the Buffalo Payments 23-20 on Sunday night time.
Maye led a closing drive to arrange Andy Borregales’ 52-yard area objective with 15 seconds remaining — a march that began with Maye in some way discovering Diggs for a 12-yard catch-and-run play as defensive lineman DaQuan Jones had the QB in his grasp and was bringing him to the bottom.
Maye’s knack for extending performs — and discovering Diggs in key conditions — was a big a part of the method that snapped the Payments’ 14-game dwelling profitable streak. Diggs, who performed for Buffalo from 2020 to 2023 and known as it a “nostalgic” night time for him, completed with a team-high 10 catches for 146 yards.
“I’m happy with each of them,” first-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel stated. “Having the ability to emotionally come again right here for Stef and being on this factor all week — a extremely good chief for us … And I feel only a actually gutty efficiency from Drake. I simply proceed to get pleasure from watching him develop and lead this soccer group.”
Maye, beginning his first prime-time recreation within the NFL, completed 22-of-30 passing for 273 yards in delivering his first game-winning drive as a professional. Afterward, he shared an embrace with Vrabel because the coach waited for each participant to congratulate them. Maye was adopted by Diggs, who darted right into a celebratory locker room that was chanting “Andy! Andy! Andy!” in a salute to Borregales, the rookie kicker who drilled the profitable area objective.
The Patriots improved to 3-2, whereas the Payments — who’ve received the previous 5 AFC East crowns — dropped to 4-1.
Diggs performed a serious position in 4 of these titles as quarterback Josh Allen’s go-to goal earlier than the Payments traded the wideout to the Houston Texans in April 2024. Diggs performed towards the Payments final yr, however that recreation was in Houston, so Sunday night time was his first time again at Highmark Stadium.
“It was lit. Electrifying,” he stated, later including that feeding off raucous crowds “is every part to me.”
“When it will get loud, it type of will get quiet for me,” stated the 31-year-old Diggs, who grew to become the primary Patriots receiver to publish consecutive 100-yard performances in the identical season since Julian Edelman in 2019. “It doesn’t hassle me an excessive amount of: They love you sooner or later, they hate you the following, they’ll love you once more. I spent a whole lot of time right here. I respect the dynamic. Was once right here. I’m not right here no extra. I assume I miss you too.”
Simply as Diggs helped Allen in his early years because the Payments quarterback, Diggs is doing the identical for the 23-year-old Maye. Maybe their greatest connection on Sunday was a 32-yard improvisational fourth-quarter play through which Maye rolled out to his proper, motioned along with his left hand for Diggs to maneuver additional up the sector then delivered a pinpoint throw alongside the appropriate sideline that was snared by the sure-handed Diggs.
The Patriots scored a landing on the following play to go forward 13-10 halfway by means of the third quarter. It was a decisive response after the Payments had scored on the opening possession of the second half.
“I noticed a younger quarterback take a step in the appropriate route,” Diggs stated. “They did a whole lot of comparisons throughout the week, and I really feel prefer it’s a hell of a comparability to be in comparison with Josh Allen. However as you come into your individual, Drake Maye must be Drake Maye. I used to be simply so happy with him coming in right here and main the group.”
Maye once more discovered Diggs for a 30-yard catch-and-run early within the fourth quarter that arrange one other landing two performs later to provide the Patriots a 20-10 lead.
The Payments roared again to tie the rating at 20 earlier than the Patriots bought the ball again at their very own 29-yard line with 2:12 remaining. The 37-yard game-winning drive began with Maye’s closing completion to Diggs. Maye made the throw whereas falling to the bottom as Jones was bearing down on him along with his left shoulder within the defender’s grasp.
Of Diggs’ triumphant return to the Payments’ dwelling stadium, Maye stated: “It’s storybook. Coming again right here, first recreation [since the trade], prime time, you would see all of it week. He simply loves soccer. He has lots within the tank left. It’s good he’s a Patriot.”
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