In a seismic shift for the AFC East landscape, the New England Patriots, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, stunned the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football, securing a dramatic 23-20 victory. The win hands the Bills (4-1) their first loss of the season and simultaneously tightens the division race, pulling the Patriots to a valuable 3-2 record.

While MVP Josh Allen remains one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks, Maye delivered a breakout performance that signaled the potential birth of a new, fierce AFC East rivalry. The win, however, was anchored just as much by a familiar face in a new uniform: former Bills superstar, wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Diggs Delivers: ‘100 Percent Personal’ Revenge Game

All eyes were on Stefon Diggs in his first game against the Bills since being traded to the New England Patriots (via the Houston Texans) in the 2024 offseason. Diggs did not disappoint, torching his former team’s secondary for a dominant stat line: 10 catches for 146 yards. His performance was the catalyst for multiple scoring drives, including a crucial 32-yard reception that set up a Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown.

When NBC’s Melissa Stark asked the star receiver if the game was personal, Diggs was unequivocal. “One-hundred percent,” he confirmed, adding, “Obviously I love those guys, still got a good relationship with those guys, got a lot of respect for them, but I love the game of football more.” The emotional win, which snapped Buffalo’s 14-game home winning streak, was reportedly followed by an exuberant locker room celebration for the wideout.

Drake Maye Outduels the MVP in Clutch Finale

The biggest moment of Maye’s young career came with the score tied 20-20 late in the fourth quarter. The Bills had just completed a comeback to knot the score via a Matt Prater field goal. Taking possession with 2:12 left, Maye, the former No. 3 overall pick, showed poise and athleticism under immense pressure.

Maye completed two huge passes on the final drive, the most memorable of which came as he was being dragged down by a defender, somehow zipping a 12-yard strike to Diggs. That play kept the chains moving and positioned rookie kicker Andy Borregales for the game-winning 52-yard field goal with just 15 seconds remaining.

Maye finished the night 22 of 30 for 273 yards, but was nearly perfect in the second half, completing 13 of 14 passes for 184 yards. His ability to execute the game-winning drive on the road in prime time against an elite division rival is a massive confidence boost for the second-year QB and New England’s new regime under coach Mike Vrabel.

Sloppy Start Plagues Bills: Uncharacteristic Turnovers

While the Patriots impressed, the Bills’ undoing was largely self-inflicted. The first half was defined by sloppy play from both sides, ending in a low-scoring 6-3 New England lead with no touchdowns. Buffalo was particularly plagued by uncharacteristic mistakes, accumulating 11 accepted penalties and three total turnovers on the night (the Bills had only one turnover in the prior four games).

Josh Allen, last season’s MVP, was responsible for two key giveaways: a lost fumble on a poor handoff exchange and a crucial red-zone interception by Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones in the third quarter. The Patriots immediately capitalized on the pick, marching 90 yards down the field for a Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown that extended the New England lead to 20-10.

Game Summary and AFC East Standings

The Patriots’ road victory not only eliminates the final unbeaten team in the NFL but also brings them within a single game of the Bills in the AFC East. With a valuable head-to-head win in hand, New England is now firmly back in the divisional picture, making the rest of the 2025 season a compelling battle for supremacy in the conference.