New England Patriots
Stefon Diggs took over towards his former workforce and helped ship a win.
The Patriots’ best players came up big of their first primetime take a look at of the season.
Drake Maye orchestrated a game-winning drive. Stefon Diggs was one of the best receiver on the sphere. Christian Gonzalez produced an enormous cease when the Patriots have been on the ropes. Christian Barmore and Milton Williams wreaked havoc.
New England secured its greatest win in years on a last-minute kick from Andy Borregales.
Right here’s a have a look at the gamers who stood out and struggled within the Patriots’ 23-20 victory:
Inventory Up
Drake Maye
Maye turned in one other environment friendly efficiency and averted turnovers.
Usually, he spreads the ball round fairly evenly, however it was clear that he had it going with Diggs and Hunter Henry.
Maye arrange New England’s fist landing together with his legs, and he made massive throws late that led to 14 fourth-quarter factors.
Stefon Diggs
Diggs introduced his A-game towards his former workforce, notching his second-straight 100-yard efficiency.
From a toe-tapping sideline catch to creating defenders miss within the open subject, Diggs made performs that moved the needle on this recreation.
It appears like he’s regaining a number of the explosiveness that wasn’t there on the very starting of the season. He had a fast return to play from his offseason ACL surgical procedure, and it’s taken him a bit to place all of it collectively on the sphere.
Ten catches for 146 yards in a primetime recreation is precisely what you need from a No. 1 receiver. His seize within the fourth quarter when Maye stiff-armed a defender and flung it away was the play of the evening.
Marcus Jones
Final week, Jones sparked the Patriots within the return recreation. This week, he made performs on protection that helped set the tone.
He had an early pass-breakup towards Keon Coleman for a key third down cease. He jumped in entrance of Khalil Shakir and picked off Josh Allen contained in the pink zone late within the third quarter.
He chipped in 4 tackles, together with two for loss to go together with a pair of cross breakups.
Milton Williams
Williams, who had missed some observe time with an ankle harm this week, added one other half-sack to his whole. Allen tried to step up within the pocket, and ran proper into Williams and a blitzing Jaylinn Hawkins.
Willaims and Barmore each utilized vital stress and located themselves within the Buffalo backfield constantly. Allen had some fast releases on throws that helped him keep away from sacks, however Williams and the Patriots’ entrance seven didn’t make it straightforward on hm.
Christian Gonzalez
Gonzalez made a key cease on Buffalo’s closing drive, diving in to interrupt up a cross supposed for Shakir and forcing the Payments to accept a game-tying field-goal as a substitute of getting a shot at a go-ahead landing. He additionally chipped in six tackles.
The Payments’ receivers didn’t have a lot of an impression on this recreation. Tight-end Dalton Kincaid did the majority of the harm.
One level of criticism: It did appear to be Gonzalez sprinted over to choose up Kincaid when there was loads of assistance on the within, whereas leaving Curtis Samuel extensive open for a 6-yard landing within the third quarter.
However, finally, Gonzalez had a great recreation and delivered a cease when the Patriots actually wanted one.
Andy Borregales
Borregales nailed the go-ahead 52-yarder proper down the center with 20 seconds to go within the fourth quarter.
The rookie had a tough begin to the season, however he rose to the event in his first alternative with the sport on the road towards the reigning division champs.
He went 3-for-3 on field-gals and 2-for-2 on additional factors.
Inventory Flat
Hunter Henry
Henry was his common constant self.
He got here into the sport averaging 51 yards per recreation and added 46 on this one with a pair of 20-plus yard catches.
He’s an enormous goal for Maye who can often be penciled in for a few massive catches per recreation. Tonight was no totally different.
Kayshon Boutte
Boutte hasn’t been getting the ball a lot not too long ago, however he made probably the most of his alternatives Sunday evening.
He caught all three of his targets, ending with three catches for 43 yards. He bought some key first downs when New England wanted them.
Inventory Down
Rhamondre Stevenson
Stevenson scored each of New England’s touchdowns.
However the greater story right here is the continuation of his fumbling points. He had the ball punched out on the finish of a four-yard catch within the first quarter. It’s his third fumble in 5 video games, and his ninth throughout the final two seasons.
Mike Vrabel has taken a affected person method with Stevenson, and Antonio Gibson leaving the sport with a knee harm definitely doesn’t assist the Patriots’ depth on the place. He’ll have to hold onto the soccer if he desires to maintain his job.
Keion White
With Ok’Lavon Chaisson out, White had a chief alternative to make some noise.
He completed with one sort out. 5 video games in, he has 5 tackles, no tackles for loss, and no sacks in a job that’s smaller than the one he had final 12 months.
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