The New England Patriots overcame adversity against the Buffalo Bills in what could be their final meeting in Highmark Stadium on Sunday night.
The Patriots' defense was able to hold off the Bills just enough to allow quarterback Drake Maye and the offense the time they needed to get things going in a momentum-shifting game. With that in mind, here are six takeaways from the Patriots' 23-20 win over the Bills in Week 5.
1. Strong First Half
After starting the game with the ball, the Patriots ended the first half with a 6-3 lead from two field goals by rookie kicker Andy Borregales, as the Pats were unable to score in the red zone.
Maye went 8-for-9 for 89 yards, targeting his top wideout Stefon Diggs five times and connecting on three for 33 yards. The rushing attack struggled heavily in the first half, totaling only 50 yards on 13 attempts. The Patriots did see another pair of fumbles from their veteran running backs, but it didn’t cost the team too much in terms of Buffalo scoring from it.
On the other side, Bills QB Josh Allen was held to only 100 yards and was unable to score a touchdown. Allen and Maye had a very similar first half, which is what you want to see if you're a Patriots fan.
2. Rhamondre Stevenson’s Fumbling Continues
After one week of not having any turnovers, Rhamondre Stevenson’s fumbling issue continued in Week 5 on the second drive of the game.
Stevenson lost the ball on his way to the ground by the second defender coming in to knock the ball loose. Although the veteran running back should protect the ball better, head coach Mike Vrabel has preached that ball protection isn’t just on the ball carrier, and it takes everyone.
Despite the fumbles, Vrabel continues to instill trust and belief in Stevenson. He gave him the first carry of the game in Week 4 following two fumbles in the week prior. After an injury to Antonio Gibson, Vrabel needed to lean on Stevenson more than he probably would’ve liked, but it paid off. He finished the game with 27 total yards and two touchdowns.
Vrabel, who’s adamant about needing Stevenson this season, is going to have to do something to get him to stop fumbling.
3. Defense Showed Up Prepared
New England's defense forced three turnovers and didn’t allow Allen to throw a touchdown until the second half, with one in each of the third and fourth quarters, and made him throw an interception in back-to-back games.
The Patriots' defense entered Week 5 ranked third in rushing defense, only allowing 77.5 yards per game and not allowing a running back to rush for over 50 yards in a game, and that continued again this week against the Bills, who have the No. 1 rushing offense in the NFL.
3. Marcus Jones' Big Games Continue
Cornerback/returner Marcus Jones had another great game after he won the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 4. Jones opened the game with a great pass defense against Keon Coleman to force a fourth down in the first quarter.
He also had an interception that reversed the field as the Bills were nearing the red zone at the end of the third quarter. He finished with seven tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. It's safe to say the Patriots wouldn't have won without him, making him the unsung hero of Week 5.
4. Stefon Diggs Showed He’s Still Top Dog
By the end of the third quarter, Diggs hit over 100 yards for the second consecutive game as he carved up his former team on nine receptions for 135 yards in his first game back at Highmark Stadium since 2023.
This is the first time that the Patriots have had a WR with back-to-back 100-yard games since Julian Edelman in 2019. It’s been important for Diggs to lead by example in New England as a true professional in his craft, and it’s shown with his recent production in the last few weeks.
The chemistry he’s building with Maye is getting stronger each week, and it really showed on a few plays in this game. Diggs finished the game with 146 yards on 10 receptions, leaving Patriots fans excited to see what he has in store for his next appearance.
5. Rookie Kicker Delivers
For as much of his trust that Vrabel is instilling in Stevenson, he’s shown the same method for rookie kicker Andy Borregales, who went on to make the game-winning field goal to leave 15 seconds on the clock in the fourth quarter.
Borregales went 100% on Sunday night, making all three field goals and both extra points. It was an encouraging performance for Patriots fans, who've dealt with a plethora of kickers in recent years. Hopefully, Borregales maintains his current form and gives New England a reliable leg for years to come.