The New England Patriots bounced back on Sunday.
And while it was Drake Maye’s late 73-yard fourth-quarter drive that resulted in the game-winning touchdown to Efton Chism III, putting New England ahead in its Week 4 upset on the road against the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills, its defense helped seal the victory nearing the final minute of regulation.
On 2nd-and-6 from his own 40-yard line, Josh Allen stiff-armed his way out of a would-have-been Dre’Mont Jones sack before uncorking a deep ball
down the left sideline towards his receiver Joshua Palmer. But second-year safety Craig Woodson cut in front of Palmer and high-pointed the ball, intercepting Allen.
That turnover put the Patriots’ offense back on the field, where Maye found Hunter Henry for a first down to end the contest.
However, earlier in the quarter, Buffalo wide receiver Keon Coleman scored the Bills’ go-ahead touchdown, slipping past Woodson and cornerback Charles Woods by running a post on his way to the end zone.
“I trust Craig (Woodson) with everything we got,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “He’s very mature, and I just love his demeanor. I love the way that he prepares, and that’s what happens. We choose our ability to respond and how we’re going to do it. I’m sure he was disappointed in the play before, and [he] came back to make a huge play to seal [the game].
“So all the credit to him, and being able to understand that the game isn’t over, and we’re going to come back and we’re going to need [him].”
Woodson was just one player from an entire defensive unit that stepped up amidst crucial injuries, leaving key players absent from the matchup. Though outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones returned, both standouts Christian Gonzalez and Christian Barmore sat out.
After New England regained its advantage 21-17 shortly after halftime, the offense grew stagnant, with its next three drives resulting in punts through half of the final frame. Still, it took Buffalo four offensive series to find Coleman in the end zone, punting twice and only notching a field goal on its third drive.
Though allowing 26 points isn’t labeled a “shut down” defensive performance, it could be considered as such against a Bills offense that led the league averaging 33.7 points per game entering the divisional matchup.
Buffalo’s production also includes a statistically top-five rushing offense. Even though their run defense bent a little more in the second half, the Patriots held that unit 64 yards below its weekly average and running back James Cook to just 16 yards on the ground in the first half.
“I thought we were excellent against the run … So, [I’m] extremely proud of the way the defensive staff, but most importantly, the players,” Vrabel said. “All the credit goes to those guys for being out there.”
With players like recent practice squad elevation Kindle Vildor contributing and making appearances on the field that afternoon, Woodson described the team’s approach as a “next-man-up mentality” before adding that the group was “ready today.”
“Everyone has to believe they are going to be the answer for why we’re going to get back in this thing,” Vrabel said of his messaging heading into the contest. “… That’s what the message will continue to be … You have to prepare every week as a starter, and you have to believe that you are the reason. Whether you make one play or 15 plays, that you’re the reason we’re going to win.”
New England, heading into Highmark Stadium 1-2 on the season, now adds another tally to the win column, placing itself just one game behind the Bills in the conference standings.
“We knew that we were in a little bit of a storm when it came to our record, losing games and especially how we last [to the Jacksonville Jaguars],” Woodson said. “I think we all just wanted to rally together … We know we can go make plays, and that was the only thing we told each other, like, ‘Go be you out there and go make a play.’ We already put it on tape before. Just go do it again, and that’s what happened today.”
