The New England Patriots pulled off a ridiculous upset on Sunday, knocking off the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills on the road in Week 4. It was Drake Maye who led a clutch 73-yard fourth-quarter drive, capping it off with the game-winning touchdown to Efton Chism III, putting New England ahead. But seriously, the real hero, the guy who slammed the door shut in the final minute, was second-year safety Craig Woodson.
Woodson’s Redemption Story Is Pure Drama
Talk about a rollercoaster. With the Patriots nursing a slim lead, Josh Allen was trying to pull off some Buffalo magic, stiff-arming his way out of what should have been a Dre’Mont Jones sack and uncorking a deep ball down the left sideline for Joshua Palmer. But Woodson, man, he wasn’t having it. He cut in front of Palmer, went up and high-pointed that ball for a game-sealing interception. You could feel the air go out of the stadium. That turnover put Maye and the offense back on the field, where they just needed to find Hunter Henry for a first down to kill the clock. Game over. Now, here’s the thing: earlier in the same quarter, Buffalo’s Keon Coleman had scored the go-ahead touchdown, totally slipping past Woodson and cornerback Charles Woods on a post route. So yeah, Woodson gave up a score, then made *the* play to win it. Head coach Mike Vrabel was all in on him after the game, too. “I trust Craig (Woodson) with everything we got,” Vrabel said, “He’s very mature, and I just love his demeanor. I love the way that he prepares, and that’s what happens. We choose our ability to respond and how we’re going to do it. I’m sure he was disappointed in the play before, and [he] came back to make a huge play to seal [the game].” Vrabel even added, “All the credit to him, and being able to understand that the game isn’t over, and we’re going to come back and we’re going to need [him].” That’s some serious faith, and Woodson delivered.
The Defense Stepped Up Big Time
But let’s be real, it wasn’t just Woodson. This whole Patriots defensive unit brought it despite some tough injuries. They were missing key guys like Christian Gonzalez and Christian Barmore, even though Dre’Mont Jones was back out there. After New England grabbed a 21-17 lead shortly after halftime, their offense basically went silent, punting three times straight. Yet, it took Buffalo *four* offensive series to find the end zone again with Coleman’s score, punting twice and only getting a field goal on their third drive. Look, allowing 26 points isn’t a “shut down,” no, but against a Bills offense that walked into this game averaging a league-leading 33.7 points per game? That’s a huge performance. Plus, Buffalo has a top-five rushing offense, and even if the run defense bent a little in the second half, they held that unit 64 yards below its weekly average and stifled James Cook to a pathetic 16 yards on the ground in the first half. Vrabel was hyping them up for it: “I thought we were excellent against the run… So, [I’m] extremely proud of the way the defensive staff, but most importantly, the players. All the credit goes to those guys for being out there.” With guys like Kindle Vildor, who was just elevated from the practice squad, getting on the field and contributing, it’s clear this team’s embracing that “next-man-up mentality.” That’s the kind of grit that can define a season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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