By JOHN WAWROW
Related Press
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Drake Maye led the Patriots on a 37-yard drive to arrange rookie Andy Borregales’ 52-yard discipline aim with 15 seconds left, and New England beat the Buffalo Payments 23-20 on Sunday night time, leaving the NFL with out an undefeated workforce 5 weeks into the season.
Stefon Diggs had 10 catches for 146 yards for the Patriots (3-2) in his first recreation at Buffalo because the 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 gained back-to-back video games for the primary time since profitable three in a row halfway by the 2022 season. Beneath first-year coach Mike Vrabel, New England has a profitable file by 5 video games for the primary time since opening the 2019 season 8-0.
And the Patriots tightened the AFC East race by shifting inside one recreation of the five-time defending division champion Payments (4-1).
“Only a actually gutty efficiency by Drake,” Vrabel stated. “Having the ability to come again and execute in a important state of affairs, and take the clock down and win it on our phrases, that’s how we follow.”
Earlier than Borregales’ decisive kick, the Payments’ drive stalled at New England’s 28 and Buffalo settled for Matt Prater’s 45-yard discipline aim 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’s the primary time since 2014 and seventh time because the 1970 merger that no workforce has began 5-0.
The Payments had three turnovers, two by 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. He was credited with a misplaced fumble at midfield on a poor handoff alternate with tight finish Dawson Knox on Buffalo’s opening drive.
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 cross over the center meant for Khalil Shakir.
The Patriots turned the interception right into a 20-10 lead with 12:10 remaining when Stevenson scored on a 7-yard run on a pitch to the left.
“We simply performed sloppy. Not going to win a soccer recreation turning the ball over thrice,” Allen stated. “That’s simply dangerous soccer. We simply didn’t play good tonight.”
Buffalo’s regular-season dwelling profitable streak ended at 14, one in need of a franchise file. The Payments’ final dwelling defeat was 24-22 to Denver on Nov. 13, 2023.
Maye, the No. 3 choose within the 2024 draft, was almost good within the second half, going 13 of 14 for 184 yards.
Diggs, meantime, confirmed he’s 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’ protection restricted James Cook dinner to 49 yards on 15 carries. Cook dinner was held beneath 100 yards from scrimmage for the primary time this season, and his streak of eight video games with a speeding landing was snapped.
Chilly entrance
The Payments wore their all-white “Chilly Entrance” rivalry uniforms, and their “Convey the Storm” rally towel-waving followers responded by additionally principally carrying white on a balmy night time with a game-time temperature of 66 levels Fahrenheit.
Accidents
Patriots: RB Antonio Gibson didn’t return after sustaining a knee harm whereas returning a kickoff six minutes into the second quarter.
Payments: C Connor McGovern returned after having checks on his hand. LB Matt Milano didn’t return after aggravating a pectoral harm that pressured him to overlook the earlier two video games. DT Ed Oliver missed his fourth straight recreation with a sprained ankle.
Up subsequent
Patriots: Proceed a three-game highway swing at New Orleans subsequent Sunday.
Payments: Play at Atlanta in a Monday night time recreation on Oct. 13.
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