I was busy all day Sunday, from making the trip to Gillette Stadium to pick up my season tickets for the Boston Legacy, to visiting the Tom Brady statue, to running a bunch of errands before finally settling in at home just in time for Sunday Night Football.
It’s been a long time since I was amped for a Patriots game. It was probably the 2021 season, when rookie Mac Jones led New England to the playoffs — a run that ended with a 30-point loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The Patriots have been in transition since then, with two new head coaches and a new franchise quarterback. But for the first time since that playoff game, I was hyped for a primetime matchup between the Bills and Patriots.
Drake Maye, in his first primetime start of the season, showed why he was the third overall pick a year ago — and he was electric. Whenever the team needed a big play, he delivered, whether it was extending a drive with his legs or finding a receiver downfield while falling to the ground. Maye threw for 273 yards and put the team on his back, playing his best all-around game in a Patriots uniform.
It’s one thing to beat the Bills, but it’s another to go into enemy territory on national TV and outduel Josh Allen. That’s something Lamar Jackson and the Ravens couldn’t do, even with a double-digit fourth-quarter lead.
Although Maye made a name for himself on the biggest stage, it was a complete team effort. Stefon Diggs (10 catches, 146 yards) reminded everyone why having a true No. 1 receiver matters. Clearly motivated to face his former team, Diggs helped Maye all night — never giving up on routes, getting open when the pocket broke down, and showing flashes of his old self. Less than a year removed from tearing his ACL, he’s clearly gaining confidence in that knee.
The defense also stepped up. Holding the Bills to just three first-half points is nothing to scoff at, and forcing three turnovers was a major storyline. Head coach Mike Vrabel has emphasized winning the turnover battle and capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes, and that philosophy came to fruition.
It was a great game plan by Vrabel, and the players executed it to perfection. Now the Patriots need to build on this win and string a few together to stay in the playoff picture. They’re in the driver’s seat for the division, but more realistically, they’re battling for a wild-card spot. With upcoming games against the Saints, Titans, Browns, and Falcons, the path is there — go 3-1, ideally better, and this team could be playing meaningful football in later in the season.
For the first time in a while, there’s a sense of hope again in New England. The Patriots have their quarterback, their identity, and maybe even their swagger back. Sunday night didn’t just feel like another win — it felt like the start of something.
