Revenge is a dish best served cold—and Stefon Diggs served the Buffalo Bills a frosty plate of it on Sunday night. Under the lights of a Week 5 primetime matchup, the Bills donned their “Cold Front” rivalry jerseys against the New England Patriots, and Diggs made his presence felt.
The 32-year-old veteran erupted for 10 catches and 146 yards—the most by a Patriots receiver in over three years (since DeVante Parker’s 156-yard outing in Week 3 of 2022). It also marked Diggs’ second straight game eclipsing 100 receiving yards, quickly validating New England’s decision to sign him in the offseason.
Given Diggs’ age and his torn ACL from October 2024, the expectation wasn’t for him to become Drake Maye’s long-term WR1, but rather to jumpstart an offense searching for an identity. He’s doing exactly that.
Diggs' Slow Start Turns the Corner Against Former Team
After a season of chaos surrounding Maye’s rookie year, the mission was clear: surround their young quarterback with more talent. Diggs headlined that effort.
Despite Diggs' track record, early returns were underwhelming. Signed in March to a three-year, $69 million deal, Diggs’ preseason was clouded by questions about his practice habits and off-field distractions. Through the first three weeks, he managed just 13 catches for 112 yards.
It was far too early to panic, but the lackluster beginning to his tenure raised eyebrows. The Patriots were easing him back into action, yet an anxious New England fanbase wondered if the team had overpaid for a declining star.
As head coach Mike Vrabel’s early-season approach has made clear, though, this season is a marathon, not a sprint. Diggs' performance in New England's win over Buffalo on Sunday night only reiterated that point.
Maye-Diggs a Dynamic Duo in the Making?
The patience with Diggs is paying off. The chemistry between Maye and the veteran wideout has taken off over the past two weeks, and Patriots fans are beginning to see the makings of something special.
Against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, Diggs posted 101 yards, highlighted by a pinpoint back-shoulder completion from Maye at the end of the third quarter—a glimpse of trust between the two beginning to form.
Then came the Bills game. What followed was arguably the best quarterback-receiver performance of the post-Tom Brady era.
After Buffalo erased New England’s 6–3 halftime lead with a seamless touchdown drive, the Patriots needed a response. On a key third down, Maye scrambled to his right, and Diggs instinctively broke off his route—improvising a deep corner to create separation 30 yards downfield. Maye hit him in stride, setting up the Patriots at the Bills’ five-yard line.
On the next drive, following a Josh Allen red-zone interception, Maye again turned to Diggs. Facing the possibility of a three-and-out, Diggs snapped off a textbook comeback route just past the sticks, giving Maye a tight window for a first down. Both plays showcased the duo’s growing trust and ability to create under pressure—something New England’s offense has sorely lacked in recent years.
Addition of a Proven Playmaker Paying Dividends for Patriots
As encouraging as Maye and Diggs’ connection has been, what’s equally refreshing for Patriots fans is seeing a wideout who can create on his own. Diggs did it on the very first play of the game, making multiple defenders miss for a big gain, and again on a 30-yard run-after-catch in the fourth quarter that helped set up another Patriots score.
For a 32-year-old receiver recovering from a serious injury, Diggs is stepping up as New England’s top weapon. Not only that, he's doing so with veteran savvy, toughness, and much-needed explosiveness.
Diggs May Not Be Long-Term Answer but Clearly a Difference-Maker
The Patriots have been starved for playmakers since the glory days. They haven’t had a receiver eclipse 1,000 yards in a season since Julian Edelman in 2019.
Stefon Diggs may not be the long-term answer in Foxborough, but his short-term impact is undeniable. He’s helping a young quarterback find his rhythm—just as he once did with Josh Allen—and giving Maye a reliable perimeter threat, the kind every young quarterback needs.
The veteran's snap share still sits around 50%, this is a sign that his role in the offense could continue to expand as the season progresses. Having a wide receiver who will grow in the offense alongside an up-and-coming signal-caller like Maye will only make both players more effective in this scheme.
Diggs is giving the Patriots’ offense a heartbeat again—his fiery passion and playmaking have injected life into a unit searching for its identity. If this version of Diggs is here to stay, New England’s rebuild might start looking like something much bigger.