Antonio Gibson (right) and the other running backs could go a long way toward complementing the passing of quarterback Drake Maye on Sunday night.
Antonio Gibson (right) and the other running backs could go a long way toward complementing the passing of quarterback Drake Maye on Sunday night.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
FOXBOROUGH — Sunday night could represent another opportunity for the Patriots’ ground game to distinguish itself.
Through the season’s first four weeks, the Bills have allowed 164.3 rushing yards per game. That’s second worst in the league; only the Bears (164.5) have yielded more. Buffalo has allowed at least 100 rushing yards in each one of its four games, including a whopping 189 yards on the ground last week to the Saints.
Some of those yards need to be placed in context; with second-half leads in all four games, the Bills have occasionally appeared content to trade rushing yards for time off the clock. But if the Patriots can keep this one manageable early, Sunday night would represent a chance for the rushing attack (which is near the bottom of the league with 101.3 rushing yards per game) to provide a genuine boost for Drake Maye and the rest of the offense.
“We can’t focus too much on where [Buffalo is] ranked. They’re still winning games,” said running back Antonio Gibson, who is averaging a team-high 4.5 yards per carry. “We have to do our part and take advantage of that. It starts with us. Not to say they won’t affect us. But if we do what we need to do, and correct what we need to correct, and focus on what we need to focus on, we’ll be all right.”
The goal each week is to play good complementary football, but that’s even more the case against the 4-0 Bills. Time of possession is key, and if the Patriots are able to put some long, sustained offensive drives together — with a steady ground game — it’ll go a long way toward keeping Josh Allen and the powerful Buffalo offense off the field for as long as possible. That could theoretically set the stage for New England to pull off the upset.
“I feel like we took steps forward last week, but we’re not there yet,” Gibson added. “Like I said, it’s a long season. But as long as we’re moving in the right direction, that’s a positive. We’ll put in the work this week. Go out there today, put in some more work, and it’ll keep trending in the right direction.”
McDaniels digs Diggs’s versatility
Before practice Thursday, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was asked about receiver Stefon Diggs’s versatility within the Patriots’ system.
“It’s probably like a nine out of 10, in terms of understanding the system and the scheme,” he said with a wink and a smile.
It was an acknowledgement of Diggs’ statements after Sunday’s game that his comfort level in the New England offense was a five out of 10, a quote that raised some eyebrows.
Stefon Diggs on his comfort level in the Patriots offense:
“5 out of 10”
-@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/L0b6ce9MEh
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) September 28, 2025
“Obviously, it’s important. I think he was being modest when he said that. I heard that little comment,” McDaniels said of Diggs. “You know, we ask our guys at the beginning of each year to learn the system as a whole. Don’t just learn it from one position, because certainly through injuries and the duration of the season, multiple people will need to play different spots based on who’s available and how we would like to play, and so on and so forth.
“He’s worked really hard at that. Obviously, he wasn’t able to practice in the spring, in terms of being out there full speed and all that stuff. But since he was cleared in training camp, every rep he’s taken has been valuable for him, and he deserves all the credit for that.”
Only Williams misses practice time
Defensive tackle Milton Williams (ankle) was the only member of the Patriots roster who did not practice, according to the team. Four players were listed as limited: linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (knee), cornerback Carlton Davis (illness), safety Jaylinn Hawkins (hamstring), and linebacker Marte Mapu (neck) … As for the Bills, they had two DNPs, with cornerback Dorian Strong (neck) and linebacker Dorian Williams (knee) sitting out. In addition, defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle) and linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral) were limited.
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.