Drake Maye Leads Patriots Past Bills, 23-20 Victory/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to a 23-20 upset over the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills, leaving the NFL without a perfect team through Week 5. Stefon Diggs, facing his former team, delivered a standout performance with 146 receiving yards. The win marked back-to-back victories for the Patriots and tightened the AFC East race.
Patriots Upset Bills Quick Looks
- Rookie QB Drake Maye threw for 273 yards and led the game-winning drive.
- Stefon Diggs caught 10 passes for 146 yards in a dominant return to Buffalo.
- Rhamondre Stevenson scored two rushing touchdowns, including a go-ahead score.
- Andy Borregales nailed a 52-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to seal the win.
- The Patriots improved to 3-2, their first winning record through five games since 2019.
- Josh Allen threw two TDs but had two costly turnovers as Buffalo’s 14-game home win streak ended.
- The NFL now has no unbeaten teams for the first time since Week 5 of 2014.
- The Bills dropped to 4-1 after an error-filled night that included three turnovers and 11 penalties.
- Buffalo’s defense gave up 184 second-half passing yards to Maye.
- Injuries hit both teams, with Antonio Gibson and Matt Milano leaving the game early.
Deep Look
Drake Maye Outduels Josh Allen as Patriots Hand Bills First Loss of the Season, 23-20
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Rookie quarterback Drake Maye passed another major test Sunday night, guiding the New England Patriots to a stunning 23-20 road victory over the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills, leaving the NFL without a single unbeaten team just five weeks into the 2025 season.
Maye, the second-year signal caller out of North Carolina, led the Patriots on a clutch final drive capped by a 52-yard field goal from Andy Borregales with just 15 seconds remaining, silencing a stunned Buffalo crowd and ending the Bills’ 14-game home winning streak.
The performance marked a statement game for the Patriots, who are showing signs of revival under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and a maturing Maye.
“You could feel this one meant a lot,” Maye said of the prime-time showdown. “We came in here and just played fearless.”
Diggs Delivers a Statement in Buffalo Return
Much of the drama centered around Stefon Diggs, who returned to Orchard Park for the first time since being traded from the Bills in April 2024. Now a Patriot, Diggs torched his former team for 10 catches and 146 yards, including several crucial grabs on third down and the final drive.
“It was electric,” said Diggs, who holds numerous franchise receiving records in Buffalo. “I knew it’d be emotional, but I came here to win.”
Diggs’ chemistry with Maye is proving potent. After recording six receptions for 101 yards last week, his connection with the rookie quarterback continues to fuel the Patriots’ offensive resurgence.
Patriots Rising, Bills Sloppy
With the win, the Patriots improved to 3-2, marking their first winning record through five games since 2019. It’s also their first time winning consecutive games since 2022.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson added two touchdowns, scoring on 4- and 7-yard runs. Meanwhile, Maye went 22-of-30 for 273 yards, including an astonishing 13-of-14 passing for 184 yards in the second half alone.
Buffalo, now 4-1, was plagued by costly turnovers and penalties. Quarterback Josh Allen, last year’s MVP, finished 22-of-31 for 253 yards and two touchdowns — but also had a muffed handoff and a critical interception deep in New England territory.
“We played sloppy football,” Allen admitted. “You can’t win games with three turnovers. We beat ourselves.”
Wide receiver Keon Coleman also lost a fumble, and Buffalo committed 11 penalties for 90 yards, disrupting offensive rhythm and stalling key drives.
NFL’s Unbeaten Teams Gone in Week 5
With the Eagles also losing earlier on Sunday to Denver, the Patriots’ win officially eliminated the league’s last two unbeaten teams. It marks the first time since 2014 — and just the seventh since the 1970 merger — that no team reached 5-0.
“This was a gut-check win,” said Vrabel. “We’ve still got work to do, but we showed we can go toe-to-toe with anybody.”
Buffalo’s usually potent offense was limited to just 20 points — only the fourth time since 2024 they’ve failed to eclipse that mark. The Patriots defense also held star running back James Cook to just 49 yards on 15 carries, ending his streak of eight games with a rushing touchdown.
Game-Changing Moments
The defining play came on the Patriots’ final drive. Facing immediate pressure, Maye dodged a near sack from DaQuan Jones and found Diggs for a 12-yard gain, igniting the game-winning march.
“You saw who wanted it more,” Maye said. “Diggs was locked in all week. That throw was for him.”
Buffalo responded by driving into Patriots territory, but their final effort stalled at the New England 28. Matt Prater’s 45-yard field goal tied the game with 2:17 left — only for Maye and Diggs to steal the show once again.
Injury Report
- Patriots: RB Antonio Gibson exited in the second quarter with a knee injury on a kickoff return and did not return.
- Bills: LB Matt Milano re-injured his pectoral and missed the second half. C Connor McGovern returned after undergoing hand X-rays. DT Ed Oliver missed his fourth consecutive game with a sprained ankle.
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