Through the first three weeks of the season, wide receiver Stefon Diggs totaled 112 yards through the air.
On Sunday, Diggs nearly matched that in one afternoon. Hauling in six passes for 101 yards in New England’s 42-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers, he flashed the playmaking ability the Patriots likely envisioned when signing him to a three-year, $63.5 million deal this offseason.
“I feel like it’s been a slow buildup throughout the past couple weeks,” Diggs said. “I had to keep my eyes in the front
of me, not what’s behind me. I was injured, and it was something that weighed on me for a long time, and I was just fighting to get back, fighting to be on another team and prove it again — not only prove it to everybody else, but prove it to myself.
“I knew that I could do it, and so I was confident, but when things like this turn the corner… this is why you’re consistent. This is why you don’t waver. This is why you don’t flinch. My biggest thing is I don’t flinch.”
Continuing to play just over 50% of New England’s offensive snaps as he eases into things post ACL surgery, Diggs moved around the formation more than in previous weeks as the Patriots altered the usage atop their wide receiver depth chart.
That versatility helped spark several explosive connections with quarterback Drake Maye, highlighted by a 22-yard crosser on third down and a perfectly placed 30-yard back-shoulder completion on a later fourth-down.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time, and it’s about being where I’m supposed to be when I’m supposed to be there,” Diggs said. “Being reliable, trying to build that consistency with Drake. I feel like consistency brings confidence from the receiver position. Quarterbacks like seeing guys open, and he throws a great, very catchable ball. So I just try to do my job.”
The emerging chemistry between quarterback and receiver was one of the afternoon’s most promising signs for the Patriots offense; especially as New England has been working to target Diggs downfield more while Maye has already noted multiple times this season he needs to get his No. 1 wide receiver the football more.
“He looked a little faster than I thought,” Maye said post-game. “He looked pretty fast. I think he’s just going to keep getting more comfortable. Shoot, he’s a great player with the ball in his hands. He’s a great leader on this team. He’s great with the energy, being positive, and glad he’s a Patriot.”
The performance marked Diggs’ 37th career 100-yard effort and snapped a streak of 22 games since he’s eclipsed the century mark. Even hitting the milestone in a blowout victory, the four-time Pro Bowler left the field hungry for more.
“I’m still going to put the work in. Probably going to work a little extra harder now, just because things are going right,” Diggs said. “You can’t relax and you can’t get complacent.”
Diggs’ next opportunity to build off Sunday’s effort will now come in primetime back at Highmark Stadium, where he’ll square off against the Bills and former quarterback Josh Allen.
“It’s going be a crazy atmosphere. Obviously, I spent a lot of years there. They have one of the best fan bases in the game,” he said. “We’re playing a real good football team, a well-coached football team and a lot of good players over there. Shoutout to Josh. I look forward to the challenge.”
