Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The New England Patriots will bring a 2-2 record to Highmark Stadium on Sunday night when they come to Orchard Park to face the Buffalo Bills. That's nothing to have a parade for, but it is the best start by a Patriots team since 2020.
Life after Tom Brady has not been fun, but the Bills' AFC East rival might be emerging from the darkness.
Brady left New England after the 2019 season. From 2020 through 2024, the Patriots went 33-51. The only time they made the playoffs, in 2021, they were routed by the Bills in "The Perfect Game".
The Patriots were a woeful 4-13 in each of the last two seasons.
However, quarterback Drake Maye, now in his second season as the starter, is making good progress.
Maye has definitely elevated his game in season No. 2 in New England. He played very well in wins over the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers, and is ranked in the top-10 in a handful of statistical categories, including completion percentage (1st), success rate (7th), expected points added per-play (6th) and adjusted yards per attempt (6th).
Maye has three-straight games completing, at least, 75% of his passes, and throwing for, at least, two touchdowns. The only quarterback in NFL history to do that more than three games in-a-row is Brady.
The 23-year-old is also averaging 247 yards passing a game with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He's run 24 times in their four games for 98 yards and a pair of scores.
Guess who his top target might be on Sunday night? A guy who used to be the No. 1 wide receiver for Josh Allen.
Former Bills wideout Stefon Diggs signed with the Patriots in the offseason after an injury-shortened 2024 season in Houston.
Diggs was pretty quiet in New England's first three games with just 12 catches for 112 yards. However, he had his first 100-yard receiving game last Sunday in a 42-13 rout of the Panthers. It was the first 100-yard receiving game since he last wore a Bills uniform.
The Patriots' receiving group includes another former Bills wideout, Mack Hollins. He's off to a slow start with just seven catches for 42 yards, but two of those seven catches went for a touchdown.
Kayshon Boutte (10 receptions for 165 yards) has been their No. 2 wide receiver.
The Patriots like to involve their tight ends quite a bit. They've gone with two tight end sets on one-third of their offensive snaps so far, which puts them in the top-10 highest usage rates for that personnel group in the NFL.
Since the start of last season, Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper have combined for more than 1,400 yards receiving.
As far as NFL rankings, New England is tied for 10th in points per-game. They are 25th in rush yards per-game (Rhamondre Stevenson has had some fumbling issues), seventh in passing yards per-game and 10th in third-down efficiency.
The Bills pass rush might have some success in this game, as the Patriots have the seventh-highest pressure rate against, and are 28th in sacks per-pass play.
Defensively, the Patriots have been bending, but not breaking.
New England is 16th in total yards per-game, second-best against the run, but 26th defending the pass. The Patriots have just three interceptions in 125 pass attempts by their opponent. They are fifth-worst in third-down efficiency, but when it comes to points, they are tied for 10th in scoring defense.
Linebacker Robert Spillane is New England's leading tackler. Former Titans pass rusher Harold Landry leads the Patriots in sacks with 3.5.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, considered by many to be their best player on defense, missed the first three games of the season due to a hamstring injury. He was back on the field for their last game against Carolina.
The Bills' special teams, specifically their punt coverage unit, better be ready to go Sunday night.
Thanks to Marcus Jones, New England leads the league in punt returns. In the cakewalk over the Panthers, Jones returned a punt in the first quarter 87 yards for a touchdown. He added a 61-yard return later in the game.
The Patriots also have a kick return for a touchdownd this season from Antonio Gibson.
The Patriots also feel they have upgraded at head coach with the hiring of former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel. In six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018-23, Vrabel had a 54-45 record and guided the Titans to three playoff berths.
In the post-Brady world, New England is 3-7 against the Bills in the regular season. One of those three wins was the 2024 regular season finale when the Bills rested many of their starters.
Related
