To be the man, you've got to beat the man. That's what we heard over and over again heading into Sunday night's matchup between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. Blowing out bad teams like the Carolina Panthers - like the Patriots did in Week 4 - is nice, but the Panthers are not the Bills. Drake Maye and company had to have their A-game to beat Joash Allen and the Bills.
Mission accomplished, as the Patriots walked out of Highmark Stadium for the final time - unless these teams meet in the playoffs - with a 23-20 win in which Maye led a game-winning drive for the first time in his career.
That's reminiscent of what one Tom Brady did in these parts for so many years. Patriots fans were accustomed to Brady coming through in big moments, and Maye had yet to do so.
Boy, did that change on Sunday, and the second-year quarterback got his flowers from the seven-time Super Bowl champion. Poetically, Rob Gronkowski - who was dealt some good-natured ribbing at the hands of Brady - was sitting right next to Brady.
Tom Brady with high praise for Drake Maye while saying Hunter Henry is the best TE in Patriots history.
— TB EGO (@TomBradyEgo) October 5, 2025
Gronk was sitting right next to him 😂 pic.twitter.com/Zr9KlZhjr8
Endorsement from Tom Brady should further skyrocket Drake Maye's confidence
Maye has been posting exceptional numbers thus far in his sophomore campaign. What really stands out? His completion percentage. That number—74%—has Maye ranked atop the NFL. Over the last two games, he hasn't turned the ball over and has put his Patriots in strong positions to win. He's getting flowers from guys like Brady and Cam Newton.
Brady pointed out that Josh McDaniels is setting up Maye to succeed, which was no surprise to the Greatest of All Time, given how many years Brady and McDaniels spent working together in New England.
Yes, McDaniels' offense is complicated, but he's not throwing calculus at Maye. He's playing to his quarterback's strengths, and that's a big reason why Maye is on track to make one of the biggest second-year jumps in the league this season.
Brady went on to joke that Hunter Henry is the best tight end in Patriots' history, taking a little joke at fellow GOAT Gronkowski. Clutch catches down the field from Henry and Stefon Diggs were monumental parts of the Patriots' win over the Bills.
If Maye continues to put the Patriots in position to win and succeeds while doing it, he'll only continue to get flowers from guys like Brady.