The New England Patriots just pulled off a massive upset, taking down the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills 29-26 in the closing seconds on Sunday. This wasn’t just any win, either. This was the game that brought Mike Vrabel’s squad back to .500 at 2-2, dodging a rough 1-3 start, and it all went down at Highmark Stadium.
Maye Clears the Air After a Wild Ride
Quarterback Drake Maye had to clear some air coming into this game, especially after piling up five, six, and seven turnovers last week and dealing with an injury scare. But he answered the call against the Bills, completing 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards. Maye tossed three touchdowns but did have an interception and a fumble. He also showed off his wheels, leading the team with 54 rushing yards. The opening drive itself was a masterclass in versatility, starting in jumbo “12” personnel. Maye scrambled for 15 yards near the uprights, hit tight ends Eli Raridon and Hunter Henry for 12 and 21 yards, then converted on fourth down. The next snap? A skinny post for a touchdown, capping off a 12-play, 97-yard drive.
But things got a little too familiar on the second series. A muddled pocket led to a sack and a fumble right near the red zone when Maye’s throwaway wasn’t quite thrown away. Buffalo defensive tackle Greg Gaines was right there for the recovery. Maye didn’t let that rattle him for long, though. On the third drive, he scrambled around a sea of blue jerseys for a 26-yard gain, diving just short of the pylon. That set up a 14-7 lead, which eventually flipped to a 17-14 deficit. The Patriots’ punt unit even made its first appearance in the final minute of the first half. Then, with just 16 seconds left, Maye’s pass burned grass and popped up for an interception by cornerback Dee Alford. At the break, Maye was 8 of 15 for 111 yards with one touchdown and two turnovers. His offense had been 0 of 2 on third down, but a perfect 1 of 1 on fourth down and 2 of 2 in the red zone. Talk about a mixed bag.
Clutch Plays and a Game-Winning Strike
Coming out of halftime, Maye kept battling. He survived some shaky exchanges from center and delivered a crucial one-on-one ball that put the Patriots up 21-17, finishing a big 14-play, 72-yard drive. Momentum stalled for a bit, with the next three possessions all ending in punts. But offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the offense still had a four-minute drill in their pocket. And that’s when Efton Chism III, the former Eastern Washington standout, stepped up huge. With 1:55 left in regulation, on third and 5, Chism looked back to glove a ridiculous 23-yard touchdown with his right hand, all while being absolutely blanketed by corner Davison Igbinosun. That highlight strike sealed the deal, giving the Patriots the 29-26 victory.
What a win for the Patriots. Grabbing a W on the road against an unbeaten rival like the Bills, especially after facing early season turnover struggles, is huge. They’re heading home now, sitting at 2-2 instead of staring down a 1-3 record, and that makes all the difference for how this early season feels.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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