MORSE: Good, Bad, and Ugly of Patriots Statement Victory at Buffalo
(PHOTO: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)
Too Legit To Quit
The win over the Bills in Orchard Park was significant, ending the Bills 15-game home streak and highlighting Drake Maye’s arrival in the NFL. This was a statement win at a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Good
Drake Maye was unbelievable in the 2nd half. He completed 13/14 passes, 184 yards, 3 Big Time throws and 0 INT. Maye took sacks rather than try dangerous passes. Taking a sack at the end of the game rather than forcing a throw and keeping the clock running was a smart, heady play. The moment wasn’t too big for Drake Maye, and it was his 1st game-winning drive.
The Bills blitzed a lot in the second half, and Maye torched them. I was so impressed by Maye stiff-arming DaQuan Jones, and as he was going down, he completed a big-time pass to Stefon Diggs. Per PFF, Maye over the past 4 weeks has an 89.0% Adjusted Completion Percentage, #1 in the league. In the second half of the last 3 games, Maye is 34-of-38, 89.2%, 430 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 INT.
The Defense has to be given credit. They held James Cook to 49 yards on 15 carries, a 3.3 YPC. This was the 1st time any team had held Cook under 100 yards. He was averaging 5,3 YPC coming in. The Defense also has three turnovers. In the first half, the defense had two turnovers from a talented Josh Allen-led offense. The Bills were also called for eight penalties compared to two for the Patriots in those first two frames.
Stefon Diggs was outstanding in his return to Buffalo. Obviously, he was motivated, and I loved his enthusiasm on the sidelines getting his players up during the game.
Andy Borregales has ice in his veins. He made the game-winning Field Goal look effortless. He said in his post-game press conference that he talked with fellow rookie long snapper Julian Ashby about playing in Buffalo in their pre-game chat. “Dude we are playing on Sunday Night Football.” The kick was perfect, right down the middle of the uprights. A thing of beauty. I have to give the line on the Field Goal team a tremendous amount of credit for not flinching when Buffalo made a late shift trying to draw movement from the Pats line.
The Patriots took a punch in the nose when Buffalo came right down with the second-half kickoff to score. The Patriots and Maye came right back and answered with their own TD. Buffalo comes right back down the field in the Red Zone, and Marcus Jones intercepted Allen at the 9-yard line, stopping that drive. The Patriots then went on a 90-yard, 11-play drive for another TD.
I thought Jahlani Tavai made a couple of good plays and was credited with 2 Tackles. Tavai had zero chance to practice tackling with anyone since he missed most of the off-season workouts and none of the Training Camp.
Need to give credit to Mack Hollins and Pop Douglas for their downfield blocking. Douglas made a block to get Diggs a few more yards, and Hollins took the DB and pancaked him in the endzone on Stevenson’s second TD.
Kayshon Boutte had 3 catches on 3 targets for 43 yards. None better than the hole shot against two high safeties. Late in the 4th Quarter, with 1:25 left on the clock, that completion set up the game-winning Field Goal.
Bad
Too many stupid penalties got Buffalo back in the game. Cory Durden hits Allen in the facemask, followed by Joshua Farmer nailing James Cook after the whistle blew. That was 30 yards on one drive. Add Kayshon Boutte, 15-yard face mask right after a 15-yard penalty against Buffalo. Brenden Schooler also had a late hit out of bounds. That play made it 1st and 25. The False Start by Vederian Lowe blew up another Pats drive. Actually, that was Drake Mayes’ fault for taking so long to hike the ball.
Jaylinn Hawkins was absolutely brutal. Can anyone cover a TE? Dalton Kincaid had a Field Day with 6 catches on 6 targets for 108 yards, an 18 YPC. Even Dawson Knox had 2 catches on 2 targets.
I was disappointed with Robert Spillane, despite him leading the team in tackles with 8 and having a Forced Fumble. Far too often, he was making tackles after 5 yards downfield. His pass coverage is very bad as well.
The Offensive line and the TEs need to run block better. Buffalo loaded the box and sometimes had 10 men in the box. McDaniels and Maye need to check out of run plays and switch to more downfield pass plays in press man.
The Patriots had no answer for Josh Allen running. He ended up with 53 yards rushing of their team’s total of 118.
Ugly
Antonio Gibson’s knee injury doesn’t look good. They will be forced to call up RB Terrell Jennings from the Practice Squad and probably need to sign another RB off the street.
Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled again. The Bills attacked his arm/hand, putting a helmet right on his forearm. I’ll give Stevenson credit because he came back and scored two TDs. He had just 14 yards on 7 carries. Vrabel said after the game, they need to clean this up because they need him.
The Patriots left too many points on the table in the First half. They made the turnovers and were given great field position, but couldn’t put it in the end zone.
Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald had this posted on X “This game was a return to relevancy.”