In Week 5, the New England Patriots (2-2) will visit Orchard Park, New York, to take on their division rival, the Buffalo Bills (4-0). Buffalo currently sits firmly atop the AFC East, holding control over the Patriots, Jets, and Dolphins.
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs will be making his second career appearance against his former team, the Bills, after facing them last season as a member of the Houston Texans. This will mark Diggs’ first trip back to Buffalo since being traded, where he spent parts of four seasons as the top target for quarterback Josh Allen.
From 2020 to 2023, Diggs recorded 445 receptions for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns with the Bills, helping lead them to an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2021. He had an incredibly successful run in Buffalo and built a strong connection with Allen during his time with the organization.
Earlier this week, Diggs spoke about his emotions ahead of his return to Buffalo, calling it “emotional” and mentioning that he still keeps in touch with several of his former teammates. He had nothing but positive things to say about the Bills, but now, as a Patriot, his focus is on producing for his new team and continuing to build chemistry with rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
After posting his first 100-yard receiving performance last week against the Carolina Panthers, Diggs will look to build on that effort and be a key factor in his return to Buffalo. The early connection between Maye and Diggs has looked promising, with both developing strong on-field chemistry.
“When I said the other day it was a 5 out of 10, obviously, I was being facetious, or sarcastic in a way,” Diggs said. “Just because, the way I look at it, I never want to get too comfortable. I said 5 out of 10 because if it’s 8 out of 10, or 9 out of 10, I don’t really have to look at my notes. I don’t really have to look over it multiple times.” — Diggs on his comfort level in the Patriots offense, via MassLive Patriots reporter Karen Guregian.
Diggs’ comfort level in the Josh McDaniels offense has certainly caught the attention of the team. Considering the work he put in throughout training camp and the offseason to rehab and get back to full strength for Week 1, his progression is evident. As Maye continues to target him more frequently, especially this week, Diggs could play a major role in the passing game.
Although things have changed in Buffalo since his departure, Diggs’ familiarity with the Bills’ offensive and defensive schemes could prove valuable for New England as they prepare for Sunday night.
The Patriots enter this matchup as underdogs, but if they can stay competitive and keep the game close, that would be a positive step for the organization. Sitting at 2-2 heading into October, New England faces an important stretch with games against the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans coming up — a stretch where they’ll look to start stacking wins and building momentum as the season continues.
My name is Kenneth Matias and I am an aspiring sports journalist that has great sports knowledge and follow the New England Patriots and the NFL landscape very closely.
