Drake Maye lifts the lid on his chemistry with Stefon Diggs at New England Patriots
New England Patriots second-year QB Drake Maye explained that he fully trusts star wideout Stefon Diggs after the team's upset road victory over the Buffalo Bills
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye guided the New England Patriots to a surprising 23-20 victory over the home Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. He was fueled by a 146-yard performance by former Bill Stefon Diggs, who became the first Patriots receiver to post consecutive 100+ yards receiving games since 2019.
Maye, 23, and Diggs, 31, have managed to find early chemistry despite their age difference. Maye waxed poetic about his new wideout when speaking at his mid-week press conference.
“I think the biggest thing is that he’s a receiver that’s easy to throw to," the young quarterback, who wasn't even a starter at this time last year, said (per Mike Reiss). "He has great hands. He catches in different ways – with his body, he turns with the football and makes people miss very easily."
"It’s very natural. You can just tell he’s played receiver a long time and played at a high level. So just trying to put it in his vicinity and he always says, ‘I got you.’ Just trust that and I think it will continue to build and build, and try to get him in the end zone.”
Maye completed 22 of his 39 yards for 273 yards and a touchdown in the win. No completion was gutsier than on the team's go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter: Maye was wrapped up by Bills lineman DaQuan Jones. He managed to wriggle free and flick the ball to a contested Diggs, who spun a defender and barreled forward for a first down.
"I saw a young quarterback take a step in the right direction," Diggs said Sunday night of Maye's play. "They did a lot of comparisons during the week, and I feel like it's a hell of a comparison to be compared to [Buffalo Bills quarterback] Josh Allen."
Diggs spent four years with Allen and the Bills, earning two All-Pro nods and four Pro Bowl births during that span. "As you come into your own, Drake Maye has to be Drake Maye," he added. "I was just so proud of him coming in here and leading the team."
On the season, Maye has completed 73.9 percent of his passes for 1,261 yards with a sparkling 7-2 touchdown-interception ratio. He's added a further 110 yards and two scores on the ground to give him an overall 63.9 QBR, comfortably in the top half of the league.
Diggs has already cracked the list of the top-50 most receiving yards of all time. His 29 catches — thanks to 10 on Sunday — on the year rank 10th in the NFL.
First-year coach Mike Vrabel was delighted with both of his offensive stars. -"I'm proud of both of them," he said.
"Being able to emotionally come back here for Stef and being in this thing all week -- a really good leader for us ... And I think just a really gutty performance from Drake. I just continue to enjoy watching him grow and lead this football team."