In all but one game through the first four weeks of the season, the Patriots have been the underdog, despite coming off a Super Bowl appearance just last year. Their performances have proven that assumption right; however, going into their pivotal matchup against the Bills, not a single analyst predicted they could escape Buffalo with a win.
Fortunately, the offense came out looking its best all season, and although Drake Maye made some mistakes, like the strip-sack, he played his best game yet and arguably played better than Josh Allen, who has been considered an MVP front-runner since Week 1.
It was an impressive showing given the circumstances: they faced not only their first divisional opponent of the season but also a hostile environment in Buffalo, down two of their best defensive players, and still without A.J. Brown.
They needed this win more than anything else, and getting it against an AFC powerhouse is even better.
The excitement was clear before the game ended, and when Mike Vrabel spoke to reporters immediately after, he summed up the win in a way that Patriots fans will love to hear.
Mike Vrabel couldn't have a better reaction to the Patriots' big win
What does the win mean for the Patriots?
"It gets us back in the race."
There might not be 7 words strung together to make a better sentence than that for the future of the Patriots than that.
We know that they're still not considered a legitimate contender in the division or even in the conference, at least not yet, so there's no need to get too far ahead of ourselves in labeling them a real threat for the rest of the season.
However, this was the biggest challenge they've faced since their Super Bowl rematch in Week 1, and stealing a win in Buffalo (again) is huge. That brings a lot of confidence to the locker room, especially for Drake Maye, and it could help determine their fate in the next few weeks.
That's why this win mattered so much, with Maye playing like a different player in nearly every facet, even in his demeanor on and off the field. Hopefully, this will boost his confidence and help him (and the naysayers) realize he's still a great player, trust his instincts, and set the Patriots up for long-term success this year.
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