The New England Patriots haven't gotten off to the strong start they envisioned. However, as tough as things have been, the offensive line has been decent, even after Mike Onwenu's injury.
That said, 'decent' probably won't cut it at the highest level, and Drake Maye has already taken nine sacks through the first three games of the season. That's why their upcoming matchup against the Buffalo Bills could be a nightmare.
Will Campbell will have his work cut out for him in Week 4, as the Bills' star, Greg Rousseau, is in the midst of a breakout season, leading the league with 6.0 sacks through the first three games.
The Patriots must give Drake Maye a fighting chance against Buffalo
So far, Maye is 2-2 against Buffalo, completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 689 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also has 85 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Those numbers don't necessarily show up, and the fact that they've sacked him 10 times in four matchups is already concerning enough. Add Rousseau's breakout campaign to the mix, and this is definitely a concern.
Campbell has taken a big leap from his erratic rookie campaign. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he's allowed only three total pressures, including one quarterback hit and one sack. That's a far cry from the revolving door he became late in 2025.
That said, it'll take much more than one person to keep the quarterback out of harm's way against one of the toughest pass rushers in the game. Notably, Maye hasn't done himself many favors this season either, often trying to do too much, getting into his own head, and not getting rid of the ball on time.
The Patriots' quarterback is clearly rattled by his slow start to the season, and he's entering a vicious cycle: He plays poorly because he's trying to do too much, and he's trying to do too much because he's playing poorly.
That won't cut it against a savvy and battle-tested team like the Bills. Josh McDaniels will have to figure out not only how to get his signal-caller going, but also how to contain a guy who's shaking off double teams, chip blocks, and piling up sacks as if they were tackles.
Beating a divisional rival and fellow Super Bowl hopeful will be the big motivation boost this team so clearly needs. More than that, watching their former No. 4 pick beat the league's leading headhunter will help flip the narrative after his up-and-down rookie campaign.
That, of course, will be way easier said than done.
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