University of Kwazulu-Natal

Drake Maye And Stefon Diggs Steal The Spotlight As Patriots Upset Bill

Bonisiwe Shabane
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drake maye and stefon diggs steal the spotlight as patriots upset bill

If you expected the Patriots to be a pushover in Buffalo, Sunday night got wild. Drake Maye, in just his second year, looked every bit the franchise quarterback the team hopes he’ll be. That winning drive late in the fourth? That’s the kind of moment that can shift an entire narrative—not just for Maye, but for the future of the Pats. Maye finished 22-of-30 for 273 yards and only missed one pass in the second half. Big-time stuff, especially in front of a hostile Bills crowd, and in a game that saw him outduel Josh Allen late.

That’s how you announce yourself in prime time. Stefon Diggs didn’t just show up—he put in his best game since 2022. Ten catches for 146 yards against the team that let him go, including multiple clutch grabs on third down. That’s great news if you like drama, and even better if you’re backing Diggs on props or fantasy. He was the clear go-to for Maye, moving the chains and popping the lid off Buffalo’s secondary. The narrative coming in was all Bills, but this win turns up the heat on Buffalo.

They had a chance to stay perfect and couldn’t close it out at home—even with Josh Allen playing catch-up and the defence sniffing out a Stevenson fumble early. Allen put up 253 yards, two touchdowns, and another 53 yards on the ground, but he kept the Pats alive with mistakes in the clutch. The Patriots, on the other hand, get a statement road win. They’re back in business at 3-2, and you can bet those markets for division and playoff odds just got interesting. The Saints are next, and you’ve got to like New England’s momentum there. As for Buffalo, a Monday night bounce-back against the Falcons feels must-win now.

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to a stunning 23-20 upset victory over the host Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, which prompted a notable change in Tom Brady's power rankings. The triumph was powered by a spectacular 146-yard showing from former Bill Stefon Diggs, who became the first Patriots pass-catcher to record back-to-back 100+ yard receiving performances since 2019. Despite their 8-year age gap, Maye, 23, and Diggs, 31, have developed an instant on-field rapport. The young signal-caller praised his new target during his midweek media session. "I think the biggest thing is that he's a receiver that's easy to throw to," the quarterback, who wasn't even a starter at this time last year, explained (per Mike Reiss). "He has great hands.

He catches in different ways – with his body, he turns with the football and makes people miss very easily." It comes as Rob Gronkowski offered an audacious verdict on Maye. "It's very natural," Maye continued. "You can just tell he's played receiver a long time and played at a high level. So just trying to put it in his vicinity and he always says, 'I got you.' Just trust that and I think it will continue to build and build, and try to get him... Maye connected on 22 of his 39 attempts for 273 yards and a touchdown in the victory. No throw showed more courage than during the team's decisive scoring drive late in the fourth quarter: Maye found himself grabbed by Bills defender DaQuan Jones.

When was the last time you saw a rookie quarterback march into Buffalo’s house and steal a victory from Josh Allen? Well, Sunday night gave us exactly that kind of magic as Drake Maye and the New England Patriots pulled off one of the most stunning upsets of the season, knocking off the Bills 23-20... This wasn’t just any win for the Patriots. This was the kind of statement victory that changes the trajectory of a season and makes you believe in the impossible again. Let’s be honest – nobody expected much from a rookie quarterback making his first primetime start against the reigning MVP. But Maye didn’t just show up; he showed out.

The 23-year-old quarterback completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards, displaying the kind of poise and playmaking ability that makes scouts salivate. The moment that’ll be replayed on highlight reels for weeks? That game-winning drive with 2:12 left on the clock. With Defensive Lineman DaQuan Jones literally dragging him to the ground, Maye somehow managed to find Stefon Diggs for a crucial 12-yard gain. It was the kind of play that separates franchise quarterbacks from mere mortals. “It’s storybook,” Maye said about Diggs’ performance.

“Coming back here, first game since the trade, primetime – you could see it all week. He just loves football.” Speaking of storybook moments, how about Diggs returning to Buffalo and absolutely torching his former team? The veteran receiver caught 10 passes for 146 yards, becoming the first Patriots receiver to post consecutive 100-yard games since Julian Edelman back in 2019. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye guided the New England Patriots to a surprising 23-20 victory over the home Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. He was fueled by a 146-yard performance by former Bill Stefon Diggs, who became the first Patriots receiver to post consecutive 100+ yards receiving games since 2019.

Maye, 23, and Diggs, 31, have managed to find early chemistry despite their age difference. Maye waxed poetic about his new wideout when speaking at his mid-week press conference. “I think the biggest thing is that he’s a receiver that’s easy to throw to," the young quarterback, who wasn't even a starter at this time last year, said (per Mike Reiss). "He has great hands. He catches in different ways – with his body, he turns with the football and makes people miss very easily." "It’s very natural.

You can just tell he’s played receiver a long time and played at a high level. So just trying to put it in his vicinity and he always says, ‘I got you.’ Just trust that and I think it will continue to build and build, and try to get him... Maye completed 22 of his 39 yards for 273 yards and a touchdown in the win. No completion was gutsier than on the team's go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter: Maye was wrapped up by Bills lineman DaQuan Jones. He managed to wriggle free and flick the ball to a contested Diggs, who spun a defender and barreled forward for a first down. Updated on: October 6, 2025 / 12:30 AM EDT / CBS Boston

Drake Maye, Stefon Diggs, and the Patriots showed the rest of the NFL they are on the rise Sunday night, as New England upset the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium, 23-20, on national television. Maye threw for 273 yards as he connected on 22 of his 30 passes, and looked a lot like Josh Allen as he escaped heavy pressure in the fourth quarter to set up New... Diggs was Maye's favorite receiver, as he came down with 10 receptions for 146 yards in his first game back in Buffalo since he was traded by the Bills in 2024. .@DrakeMaye2 WHAT. A. PLAY.📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/BeMtrCb3Y2

Maye was at his best in the second half, when he connected on 13 of his 14 passes for 184 yards. He was a perfect 6-of-6 for 90 yards in the fourth quarter. Phil Perry, Tom E. Curran and Ted Johnson share instant reaction to the Patriots’ gutsy 23-20 win over the Bills The New England Patriots walked into Highmark Stadium as heavy underdogs against the undefeated Buffalo Bills, but emerged with a stunning 23-20 upset win on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. This game had it all, from a low-scoring, fumble-filled first half to Drake Maye and Josh Allen trading touchdown drives in a high-scoring second half.

But the Patriots got the last laugh. After Matt Prater’s game-tying field goal with 2:17 remaining, Drake Maye led New England's offense 37 yards in seven plays to set up Andy Borregales' 52-yard, go-ahead field goal with 15 seconds remaining. Check out our live blog below for a full game recap with postgame analysis and more:

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