The New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Payments to go away the NFL with out an unbeaten staff simply 5 weeks into the season.
Drake Maye led the Patriots on a 37-yard drive to arrange rookie Andy Borregales’ 52-yard discipline objective with 15 seconds left to take a 23-20 victory over the Payments.
Stefon Diggs had 10 catches for 146 yards for the Patriots (3-2) in his first recreation at Buffalo for the reason that Payments traded him to Houston in April of 2024. Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 2 touchdowns, the second arrange by Diggs’ 32-yard reception.
Maye went 22 of 30 for 273 yards, and no throw was extra spectacular than when he started the ultimate drive by eluding the grasp of Payments defensive sort out DaQuan Jones and getting off a 12-yard completion to Diggs.
The Patriots received back-to-back video games for the primary time since successful three in a row halfway by the 2022 season. Underneath first-year coach Mike Vrabel, New England has a successful document by 5 video games for the primary time since opening the 2019 season 8-0.
The Patriots tightened the AFC East race by transferring inside one recreation of the five-time defending division champion Payments (4-1).
“Just a really gutty performance by Drake,” Vrabel mentioned. “Being able to come back and execute in a critical situation, and take the clock down and win it on our terms – that’s how we practise.”
Earlier than Borregales’ decisive kick, the Payments’ drive stalled at New England’s 28 and Buffalo settled for Matt Prater’s 45-yard discipline objective to tie the sport with 2:17 left.
Buffalo and Philadelphia entered the day because the NFL’s final unbeaten groups. The Eagles misplaced to visiting Denver. It is the primary time since 2014 and seventh time for the reason that 1970 merger that no staff has began 5-0.
The Payments had three turnovers, two by Josh Allen. Receiver Keon Coleman misplaced a fumble at his personal 11.
Allen, final season’s MVP, completed 22 of 31 for 253 yards and threw landing passes to Coleman and Curtis Samuel.
Marcus Jones intercepted Allen at New England’s 10 with Buffalo trailing 13-10 within the third quarter. On second-and-13, Allen pressured a go over the center supposed for Khalil Shakir.
The Patriots turned the interception right into a 20-10 lead with 12:10 remaining when Stevenson scored on a seven-yard run on a pitch to the left.
“We just played sloppy. Not going to win a football game turning the ball over three times,” Allen mentioned. “That’s just bad football. We just did not play good tonight.”
Buffalo’s regular-season dwelling successful streak ended at 14, one wanting a franchise document. The Payments’ final dwelling defeat was 24-22 to Denver on November 13, 2023.
Maye, the No. 3 choose within the 2024 draft, was practically excellent within the second half, going 13 of 14 for 184 yards.
Diggs, in the meantime, confirmed he is totally recovered from a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season with the Texans. Although he has but to attain, Diggs has posted consecutive 100-yard outings.
The Patriots’ defence restricted James Cook dinner to 49 yards on 15 carries. Cook dinner was held below 100 yards from scrimmage for the primary time this season, and his streak of eight video games with a dashing landing was snapped.
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