Relieved Maye rebounds in win vs. Bills that gets Patriots 'back in race'

• 

  Mike ReissOct 4, 2026, 06:24 PM ET

  Close

  Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Quarterback Drake Maye snapped out of his early-season slide with a clutch performance as the New England Patriots upset the Buffalo Bills, 29-26, at Highmark Stadium in a result that coach Mike Vrabel highlighted as critical for the defending AFC champions.

"It gets us back in the race," Vrabel said after his team overcame a 26-21 fourth-quarter deficit with Maye leading a 73-yard touchdown drive and safety Craig Woodson intercepting Josh Allen to help close it out.

"Josh is unbelievable but I felt like Drake went toe to toe with him."

The Patriots (2-2) closed the gap with the Bills (3-1) in the AFC East. Maye finished 22-of-37 passing for 269 yards, with three touchdowns, one interception and one lost fumble. He added 54 rushing yards on eight carries.

Maye was given a game ball by Vrabel in the locker room after the game.

"We definitely have to build on it. This is relieving a little bit," said a smiling Maye, who exhaled in that moment.

Maye entered Sunday having thrown just one touchdown pass and six interceptions.

After the game, Vrabel saluted Maye's response to adversity -- both in the game, and in the big picture with his slow start to the year.

"I thought he just competed today," Vrabel said. "Whether it was a bad snap or dropping or a ball -- whatever it may have been -- to come back and really focus on what he needed to do. Scrambling. Being decisive. Using his legs. Being accurate.

"I'm happy for him, I'm proud of him. He deserves all the credit. However things have been, the only thing that matters is what we're going to do the next opportunity we get. Sometimes that's hard for everybody to understand, but I think he really took that to heart."

In addition to Maye, Vrabel awarded game balls to Woodson and receivers Romeo Doubs (6 catches, 58 yards, 2 TDs) and Efton Chism III, who delivered a sensational one-handed 23-yard touchdown catch for the game-winning score with 1:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Earlier in the drive that led to the winning touchdown, Chism climbed the ladder for a 19-yard completion on second-and-10.

Chism was thrust into a top role with the Patriots entering the game without No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown (high ankle sprain) and then losing his replacement, Mack Hollins, to a calf injury in the third quarter. He is a second-year player who made the team as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Washington in 2025, playing a niche role.

Bills cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson tipped his cap to Chism, while also throwing shade at him.

"An elevated guy made a helluva catch," he said. "You probably won't hear from him again, respectfully. I say that with a lot of confidence because it's like [Maye] didn't put his confidence in his best player. He would have thrown to Doubs or somebody."