The New England Patriots went into Buffalo and shocked the NFL world with a 29-26 win over the Buffalo Bills. It was a statement win that kept the Patriots from starting 1-3. It was also the coming-out party for undrafted and little-used second-year player Efton Chism III, who won the game with an improbable one-handed circus-catch touchdown.
Patriot Nation shouldn't have been surprised. This young man can play football.
For some reason, the Bills bring out the best in the Patriots. Last season they went into Buffalo and beat the Bills, and only a late collapse at Gillette Stadium cost them the season's sweep. Yet one key issue still threatens the Patriots' ultimate fate this season.
Their offensive line still isn't good enough, and the offensive coaching staff can't seem to devise a comprehensive plan to compensate.
It's no embarrassment to go into the Bison's den and lose a game to the best player in the NFL, Josh Allen. It happens all the time to almost every NFL team. Yet, the Patriots don't seem to get fazed by either their terrific quarterback, Allen, or his Bills, no matter where they play.
But the Patriots' top young quarterback, Drake Maye, is still constantly flushed out of the pocket and forced to scramble. It's the result of an offseason personnel failure, and it's put the 2026 season in jeopardy.
The New England Patriots made their 2026 bed they'll have to sleep in it
NFL teams that have a good or better quarterback have a chance. If not, they don't. It's a simple fact of life in the NFL. The Patriots have one in third-year quarterback Drake Maye, no matter what his myopic critics are saying.
For the most part, they remain oblivious that a quarterback's and an offense's performance directly depends on their offensive line play. They set the tone for any game, and without a good one, you are toast.
The Patriots' 2025 O-line wasn't good, but their powderpuff schedule masked it to a certain extent. Maye's uncanny scrambling ability did, too. Without both, that team would have flopped and settled on the bottom of the AFC East, as it did in 2024.
Maye was, and still is, as he was against Buffalo, hurried, harried and harassed on far too many passing plays. Against the Bills, he was pressured a career-high 21 times, sacked once, lost a fumble, and threw another pick. Two ill-advised penalties against left tackle Will Campbell didn't help. And right tackle Morgan Moses now looks every bit the 35-year-old player he is.
The New England Patriots' offensive line still needs a major overhaul
The O-line puts Drake Maye in constant jeopardy. It led to a shoulder injury in 2025, and its effects may still linger, as some of his lackluster throws may testify to that. Also, many of his turnovers are a direct result of Maye being crushed up against oncoming defenders.
The resultant scrambles often lead to ill-advised passes or fumbling the ball into the opposition's hands. Too often, Maye's uncanny running ability has to save the day.
Poor offensive line play persists and is remains the team's Achilles' heel. The offensive coaching staff has not taken enough steps to vary game plans and use deceptive play-calling to ease the constant pressure on Maye. When they do, it seems to work.
Against Buffalo, there was a shocking shovel pass to Hunter Henry; two quick-hitting running plays with Rhamondre Stevenson; and a quick pitch to TreVeyon Henderson that all worked.
Those runs displaced the usual hold-the-ball-out in the direction of the run, telegraphing the play's direction and getting nothing in return. Hope springs eternal that the Patriots' offensive coaches will finally fully diversify their offense enough to take the incessant heat off Maye.
Despite the win in Buffalo, the offensive line's deficiencies remain. The personnel department failed to make enough changes in the offseason.
They returned four starters from an O-line that allowed 47 sacks in the regular season, 21 more in the playoffs, and had Maye scrambling for his life on dozens of other plays. It is what it is: a potential season-wrecking flaw that, at this point, only more deception in the offense can remedy if the Patriots are to succeed in 2026.
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