All-22 Review: Drake Maye, Patriots’ Defense Deliver Clutch Comeback Win Over Bills

The All-22 Review is back for Week 4.

In this week’s episode, we review key moments from a pivotal upset victory for the New England Patriots over the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, including two of Drake Maye’s three touchdown passes and Craig Woodson’s fourth quarter interception of Josh Allen to seal the win. New England’s resolve was tested against a contending AFC East Rival in Buffalo, and in the clutch moments, the Patriots delivered with complementary football and showcased their ability to overcome adversity. That was on full display on these three snaps.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of each play:

Game Situation: NE 0, BUF 0; 7:01 - 1st; 1st & 10 at BUF 14

Romeo Doubs was a reliable target for Maye in the passing game on numerous occasions in New England’s win over Buffalo. He converted two fourth downs and scored two touchdowns, totaling six receptions on nine targets, 58 receiving yards, and the two scores in his most productive performance as a member of the Patriots.

His first trip to the end zone kicked off the scoring for New England — and came immediately after his first fourth-down conversion — capping off a 12-play, 97-yard opening possession and putting the Patriots up on the scoreboard in the first quarter. On this play, Doubs aligned as the X receiver to the backside of a 4x1 bunch formation. To the field, New England ran a fake-screen, wheel concept that has become a staple of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ offensive system. Initially looking to that side, the Bills’ late rotation into Cover 3 effectively took away the concept, but created a one-on-one matchup for Doubs on cornerback Maxwell Hairston.

An advantageous matchup for the Patriots all day, Doubs was able to out-leverage Hairston on an in-breaking route in the end zone and box out the defender for the touchdown. Maye efficiently worked his way through the read progression, timed the throw perfectly, and Doubs converted when called upon in the red zone. It was his first touchdown since joining New England, but he would find pay dirt once more in the third quarter — beating Hairston again on a goal line fade that he hauled in one-handed.

Doubs’ two red zone touchdowns helped the Patriots finish the game three-for-three on trips inside the 20-yard-line — a stark contrast from their league-worst 16.7% red zone conversion rate entering the game. 

Game Situation: NE 21, BUF 26; 1:50 - 4th; 3rd & 5 at BUF 23

Used primarily as a blocker during the game, Efton Chism III came alive with two catches, 42 receiving yards, and the game-winning touchdown reception on New England’s clutch late fourth-quarter drive to take the lead. 

Chism’s first catch came on a dig route over the middle of the field, climbing the ladder to gain 19 yards and push the ball down to the Buffalo 28-yard-line. His next delivered the dagger. On 3rd-and-5 from the Bills’ 23-yard-line, Buffalo sent safety Damar Hamlin on a slot blitz that was recognized quickly by Maye, who booted to his right and heaved up a signature off-platform throw down the right sideline to connect with an outstretched Chism for the one-handed score. 

The second-year wide receiver saw an expanded role in the second-half after Mack Hollins exited the game with a calf injury, and made the most of each opportunity he had to get his hands on the football. None were more impactful than his second catch of the day — and could position him for even more extensive inclusion in the offensive gameplan in the weeks to come.

Game Situation: NE 29, BUF 26; 1:14 - 4th; 2nd & 6 at BUF 40

Josh Allen regained possession with 1:42 remaining, two timeouts, and a chance to tie or take the lead late in the game. 

After manufacturing 16 yards of offense on the drive, Allen dropped back to pass on 2nd-and-6 and made a fatal error that helped New England secure victory. The Bills ran a flood concept from a bunch formation to the short-side of the field, trying to work the sideline to preserve the clock and their timeouts while inching their way closer to field goal range. 

New England was able to generate pressure with a defensive line stunt to disrupt the timing of the play early, as Milton Williams engaged with both the left guard and left tackle and allowed a looping Dre’Mont Jones to penetrate into the backfield untouched. Jones hit Allen, who was able to shake him off and get his eyes back downfield — and immediately pulled the trigger to try and hit Joshua Palmer on a corner route that would have flipped field position.

The only problem? Palmer was double-covered by Marcus Jones and Craig Woodson. The Patriots — who ran the vast majority of their passing snaps in zone coverage as a tendency-breaking schematic shift to limit Allen’s mobility — ran Cover 1 man on this snap, and blanketed each of Buffalo’s eligible receivers to the bunch. Palmer was the least likely option on the play; with the field cut in-half, the Patriots’ lone deep roamer — Woodson — was able to cheat his way over to the strength of the formation and take away any deep shots over-the-top. Allen disregarded his presence entirely, and paid a steep price for the decision.

Maye and the New England offense found new life after a rough three-game stretch to begin the 2026 regular season. Their timing was impeccable — knocking off the unbeaten Bills to draw within one game of the division-lead and renewing confidence in the team moving forward into a two-game home stretch. Maye’s execution against Buffalo’s pressure packages showed shades of his MVP-caliber form from last fall, and his developing rapport with the Patriots’ thinning receiving corps promises even greater results when that group is back to full health. On the other side of the ball, New England’s shorthanded defense rekindled the brilliance of their early-season success with an outing that neutralized Josh Allen’s mobility and rattled him into mistakes in the game’s most critical moments.

What did you think of the Patriots’ performance in their bounce-back win over the Bills? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.

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Recent Articles:

- 10 Key Takeaways from the New England Patriots’ Resilient Victory at the Buffalo Bills

- What to Watch For: New England Patriots Offense vs. Buffalo Bills Defense | Week 4 2026

- What to Watch For: New England Patriots Defense vs. Buffalo Bills Offense | Week 4 2026

- How Will Patriots’ Defense Look to Contain Josh Allen and Bills’ Offense?

- What Can Drake Maye, Patriots’ Offense Expect to See From Bills’ New-Look Defense?

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