Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-05 · by Kyle Hightower The Associated Press
The Patriots won their game against the Buffalo Bills in the new Highmark Stadium, bringing their season record to 2-2. This victory came after concerns about quarterback Drake Maye’s performance and team injuries. Despite throwing an interception and losing a fumble, Maye led a critical drive that resulted in Efton Chism III’s go-ahead touchdown catch, ending his two-game scoring drought. Coach Mike Vrabel expressed confidence in Maye and highlighted the importance of support for their quarterback to ensure future success.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The Patriots’ early season triumph at Buffalo last season was part of the 10-game winning streak that helped propel them on a Super Bowl run following a 1-2 start.
asserted
that → propel → start
The Patriots are 2-2 on the season after handing their division rivals their first loss in the new Highmark Stadium.
asserted
Patriots → hand → Stadium
Following a week of questions about quarterback Drake Maye’s struggles, poor offensive execution and a mounting number of injuries, their performance for the moment has brought a sense of confidence back to the defending AFC champions.
asserted
performance → follow → champions
We ain’t dead!
asserted
We → ai → ?
We ain’t dead!” defensive tackle Cory Durden shouted as he embraced coach Mike Vrabel on his way to the locker room Sunday.
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he → ai → room
Vrabel was equally succinct in describing what the win meant for his team.
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win → describe → team
“Gets us back in the race,” he said.
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he → get → race
He wasn’t spotless, throwing his seventh interception of the season and losing a fumble.
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He → throw → fumble
But he was poised with the game on the line, leading the Patriots on an eight-play, 73-yard drive that ended with Efton Chism III’s diving, one-handed, go-ahead catch in the end zone.
asserted
that → poise → zone
It capped a day that saw Maye throw for a season-high 269 yards and three TDs.
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Maye → cap → yards
It ended his two-game drought without a TD pass.
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It → end → pass
“Everybody understands how the quarterback has to perform in this league for the team to have success,” Vrabel said.
asserted
Vrabel → understand → success
“Everybody does have his back, starting with me and everybody all the way down.
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Everybody → have → me
What’s working
Chism is the latest example of the Patriots’ history of finding success with undrafted free agents.
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Chism → work → agents
Signed after the 2025 NFL draft, he appeared in just eight games as a rookie, catching each of his three targets for 75 yards, with one touchdown.
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he → sign → touchdown
He already has played in three of the four games this season, with seven targets and four catches for 41 yards.
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He → play → yards
What needs help
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What → need → help
As excited as the Patriots were to see Chism come up big after Mack Hollins’ injury, there are mounting concerns at wide receiver.
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Chism → see → receiver
Vrabel acknowledged Monday that Hollins likely would miss a couple of days of practice, putting his availability for Sunday’s game in jeopardy.
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Hollins → acknowledge → jeopardy
That would leave the Patriots down another top receiver, with A.J. Brown still on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
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That → leave → sprain
Signing another receiver is a possibility.
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Signing → sign → receiver
“Sure, anybody that could help us,” Vrabel said.
uncertain
Vrabel → help → us
Following a rough debut in the season-opening loss to Seattle, Doubs is starting to show why the Patriots signed him to a four-year, $70 million deal this offseason.
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Patriots → follow → deal
He had his first two touchdown catches of the season and is tied for second on the team with 12 receptions.
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He → have → receptions
With the Bills trailing 14-7 and facing a third-and-goal on the New England 16, he received an unsportsmanlike conduct for arguing a defensive holding penalty on Marcus Jones.
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he → trail → Jones
Vrabel said he told the official it was a “terrible effing call.”
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it → say → official
The penalty, along with Jones’ initial infraction, put the ball on the 6.
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penalty → put → 6
The Bills tied the game following a TD run by Josh Allen two plays later.
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Bills → tie → Allen
“I’ve said that 87 times since I’ve been a head coach.
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I → say → that
You’d have to ask him.
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You → have → him
I think he was a little sensitive,” Vrabel said.
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Vrabel → think → ?
“I apologized to him.
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I → apologize → him
Players responded, it was unfortunate.
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it → respond → ?
And I have to be better in those moments.”
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I → have → moments
Cornerback Charles Woods left the game with a shoulder injury but was able to return. ...
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Woods → leave → injury
Tight end Eli Raridon and fullback Reggie Gilliam also left the game with ankle injuries.
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Raridon → leave → injuries
Key number
29 — In their first three games this season, the Patriots scored only 29 points in 30 drives.
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Patriots → score → drives
They had 29 points in their 12 drives against the Bills.
asserted
They → have → Bills
Next steps
The Patriots host the the Las Vegas Raiders (3-1) on Sunday.
asserted
Patriots → host → Sunday
The Aporia
