FOXBORO — For the primary time this season, Stefon Diggs appeared like a legit No. 1 large receiver within the Patriots’ offense.
And if Drake Maye has discovered his go-to large receiver in Diggs, then it might wind up being an enormous yr for the younger quarterback.
Maye discovered Diggs, who signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract this offseason, for six catches on seven targets for 101 yards. Maye had been hitting Diggs on quick passes via the primary three weeks of the season, however they related on three explosive performs within the 42-13 win over the Panthers.
“He appeared slightly sooner than I believed,” Maye stated after the sport. “He appeared fairly quick. I feel he’s simply going to maintain getting extra comfy. Shoot, he’s an important participant with the ball in his arms. He’s an important chief on this workforce. He’s nice with the vitality, being constructive, and glad he’s a Patriot.”
Diggs picked up 33 yards on a deep crossing sample halfway via the second quarter. That led to the Patriots’ third landing on the afternoon. Diggs later discovered area in the midst of the sphere early within the third quarter to choose up a primary down on first-and-10 with a 22-yard acquire. Their third large completion got here late within the third quarter when Diggs hauled in a back-shoulder throw from Maye for 30 yards on fourth-and-3.
Diggs is clearly getting extra acquainted offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ system, however he nonetheless looks like his consolation degree is only a 5 out of 10, however that’s as a result of “you by no means need to get too comfy.”
Diggs got here into the sport with simply 13 catches for 112 yards via three video games whereas recovering from a torn ACL suffered final October.
“I knew that I might do it. I used to be assured,” Diggs stated. “However when issues like this flip the nook, it’s like, while you while you work extraordinarily exhausting and also you’re constant and also you don’t waver, and the tide turns identical to this, for this reason you’re constant. For this reason you don’t waver. For this reason you don’t flinch.”
Diggs stated he isn’t going to get complacent after placing collectively his thirty seventh profession 100-yard recreation. As an alternative, he’s going to make use of it for further motivation.
“I’m nonetheless gonna put the work in. In all probability going to work slightly further tougher now, simply because issues are going proper,” Diggs stated. “You possibly can’t loosen up and you’ll’t get complacent.”
Head coach Mike Vrabel pressured that there was no emphasis on getting Diggs extra concerned this week.
Diggs stated heading into Week 4 that he wouldn’t demand the ball extra and that he’s completely satisfied simply consuming what’s placed on his plate. Maye did inform Diggs that he was going to attempt to goal him extra.
“Simply the place the ball was going,” Vrabel stated. “Stef and everybody has executed a pleasant job. If we are able to proceed to consider within the quarterback that he’s going to throw to the man who’s open within the development, then good issues will occur.”
Wanting forward, the Patriots tackle Diggs’ former workforce, the Payments, in Week 5. The Professional Bowl large receiver expects a “loopy atmosphere” in Buffalo.
Diggs helped remodel Payments QB Josh Allen into one of many league’s greatest quarterbacks. Maye turned in one other stellar efficiency in Sunday’s win.
