ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Stefon Diggs, feeling loose after a win that meant a little extra on Sunday night, drew a laugh in his press conference after a [23-20 win](https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/10/05/what-we-learned-best-and-worst-from-patriots-23-20-week-5-win-over-bills/) over the Bills.
It was mentioned to Diggs that he had put together back-to-back 100-yard games. Safe to say he’s feeling good less than a year removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL?
“Six out of 10,” Diggs quipped.
Diggs made headlines last week when he said, in jest, that his comfort level in the Patriots’ offense was just a 5 out of 10. Head coach Mike Vrabel joked by responding that Diggs should start studying more. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels cracked that he thought Diggs’ understanding of the offense was a 9 out of 10 because there’s still some juice left to squeeze.
Make no mistake, Diggs might not be the player he was the last time he stepped on the field at Highmark Stadium in a Bills uniform with an array of 1,000-yard seasons, but he’s looked pretty damn close in back-to-back games. Diggs helped Josh Allen become one of the league’s best quarterbacks, and it appears he’s well on his way to doing the same with Drake Maye.
And the Patriots wouldn’t have won without their $63.5 million offseason addition.
Diggs was the engine that made the Patriots’ offense run Sunday night in a shocking upset win over his former team. With 10 catches for 146 yards, Diggs caught nearly half of Maye’s completions and registered over 50% of the Patriots’ receiving yards. He was the only Patriots receiver to haul in over three targets, and he was the only pass-catcher with over 50 yards.
The Patriots’ goal might be to spread the ball around, but it’s clear that the offense currently goes through Diggs.
The pressure was on for Diggs on Sunday night, facing the team that traded him during the 2024 offseason.
It was a raucous crowd at Highmark Stadium in a “white out” with Bills players and fans donning all white in what felt like a college environment against the Patriots.
Diggs and the Patriots quieted the down throughout the game.
“That’s everything to me. I love football. And when it gets loud, I mean, it kind of gets quiet for me,” Diggs said. “Even when it’s quiet, I’m not thinking too much. When it gets super loud, I just try to hone in on my details. I want to win every rep. They don’t bother me too much. They love you one day, they hate you the next, they’re going to love you again. I spent a lot of time here. I respect the dynamic. Used to be here. I’m not here no more. I guess I miss you too.”
Diggs doesn’t have a touchdown yet, but he’s now on pace for a 99-catch, 1,221-yard season despite a slow start. It was a surprise that he was ready for the start of training camp given his recovery timeline. That he’s already putting together 100-yard performances is an excellent sign for the four-time Pro Bowl selection.
Diggs embraced quarterback Josh Allen before and after the game. Diggs was overheard by a reporter telling his former quarterback that he loved him.
“That’s my dawg,” Diggs said. “Obviously things happen, business happens, but I spent a lot of time here, and I got a lot of love and respect for that young man. He’s a tremendous player, and he’s one of the boys. Obviously, things happen and I’m not here no more, but I consider myself a real one, and I’m never going to — if I’m not on a team no more we’re not cool no more. We built a special bond. That was my guy. I’m not going to switch up or act like I didn’t have a lot of love and respect for that young man. So, when I see him, I try to give him that reminder.
“Even last year, they had that picture, right? Of me side-eyeing him, but they just kind of caught it at the wrong time, but I always wanted to speak on that photo, because I was staring at him in a moment because it was like, ‘Damn, that was my brother.'”
Diggs tried not to draw comparisons between Maye and Allen this week, but it sounds like the veteran wide receiver has a lot of love for his new quarterback, as well.
“I see a young quarterback taking a step in the right direction,” Digg said after the win. “They did a lot of comparisons during the week, and I feel like it’s a helluva comparison to be compared to Josh Allen, but as you come into your own, Drake Maye has to be Drake Maye. I was just so proud of him coming in here and leading the team.”