New England Patriots
“He seemed a bit sooner than I assumed. He seemed fairly quick.”
After one other irritating loss to the Steelers in Week 3, Drake Maye was requested about some the measures wanted to get New England’s inconsistent offense buzzing as soon as once more.
One of many younger QB’s prime priorities? Getting Patriots vast receiver Stefon Diggs the ball.
“We attempt to put him in circumstances the place he’s getting the ball and an choice to get the ball on large performs. He had a giant third down catch [during the Steelers game],” Maye said last week. “The primary third down we had, I in all probability ought to have thrown it to him. Little issues like that.
“We had a fourth down in opposition to Miami. He’s making performs, so he’s in positions on key downs to make performs. I’ve bought full belief in him. He simply retains displaying it each week.”
Whereas Diggs’ resume speaks for itself, the veteran wideout had struggled to make a lot of an influence as a official No. 1 possibility on New England’s offense via three video games. By three video games, the 31-year-old had reeled in 13 catches for 112 whole yards.
On Sunday, Diggs almost eclipsed that whole in only one sport in opposition to the Panthers.
Throughout a day the place Maye and the Patriots’ offense showcased loads of potential as a dynamic and environment friendly unit, it ought to come as little shock that Diggs lastly broke via along with his greatest sport with New England.
Diggs closed out Sunday’s 42-13 win over Carolina with six catches off of seven targets for a team-best 101 receiving yards.
Regardless that he didn’t discover the top zone, Diggs’ crisp route-running made him a reliable goal for Maye — who additionally hit him for 2 explosive performs of 33 and 22 yards, respectively.
In whole, New England’s offense generated seven performs that went for 20+ yards on Sunday.
“He seemed a bit sooner than I assumed. He seemed fairly quick,” Maye joked postgame. “I feel he’s simply going to maintain getting extra comfy. Shoot, he’s an incredible participant with the ball in his arms. He’s an incredible chief on this crew. He’s nice with power, being constructive, and glad he’s a Patriot.”
For Diggs, Sunday’s outcome was a welcome sight for a number of causes. Past serving to New England get again to .500 with a much-needed win, Diggs took one other step ahead in his restoration from a torn ACL final October.
Sunday marked the primary time that Diggs surpassed 100 receiving yards in a single sport since Oct. 15, 2023.
“I used to be simply combating to get again,” Diggs mentioned. “Combating to get again and be on one other crew. Show it once more. Not solely show it to all people else, but additionally show it to myself. I knew that I may do it. I used to be assured.
“However when issues like this flip the nook, while you work extraordinarily exhausting and also you’re constant and also you don’t waver and the tide turns, it’s like, for this reason you’re constant. For this reason you don’t waver. For this reason you don’t flinch. My largest factor is don’t flinch.”
Regardless that Diggs seemed like his classic self on Sunday in opposition to Carolina, the four-time Professional Bowler mentioned that he has loads of work to do in terms of studying the ins and outs of Josh McDaniels’ dense offensive playbook.
“5 out of 10,” Diggs mentioned of his consolation stage in New England’s offense. “I’ll take it with a grain of salt. Clearly having success just isn’t — it’s week-to-week and it’s been a gradual ramp up or construct up… being comfy is a way of thinking. I’ve nonetheless bought to review. I’ve nonetheless bought to flip the pages. I’ve nonetheless bought to grind.”
Subsequent up on the docket for Diggs and the Patriots? A primetime matchup in opposition to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Payments subsequent Sunday evening.
Will probably be Diggs’ first sport again in Buffalo because the Payments traded him to the Texans in April 2024 after 4 standout seasons as Allen’s No. 1 goal.
“They’re a hell of a soccer crew,” Diggs mentioned of the Payments. “Within the division, they are saying it’s one sport, however it rattling close to counts as two. And it’s exhausting to win on the highway. So we gotta go in with the appropriate mindset taking part in an actual good soccer crew, a well-coached soccer crew with plenty of good gamers over there. Shout out to Josh.
“I stay up for the problem. I do know the fellows stay up for the problem. It’s going to be a very good check for us.”
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