The Buffalo Bills lobbed a batting-practice fastball at Josh McDaniels. New England’s offensive coordinator knocked it out of the park on Sunday in the Patriots’ 29-26 win.
His offensive line leaking, his quarterback’s psyche in need of repair and his football team in desperate need of a win, McDaniels delivered a focused, lethal gameplan on Sunday – one that ultimately helped Drake Maye earn the AFC Offense Player of the Week.
“Josh was unbelievable,” coach Mike Vrabel said of his OC after the game on Sunday.
Sizzling game plan
McDaniels’ plan was laser-focused. He attacked weaknesses and flat-out destroyed the Buffalo defensive coaching brain-trust in what translated to an early-round knockout.
The Patriots did their homework, locating soft spots in the Buffalo secondary and attacking.
Exploiting the soft spots
On the 97-yard possession to open the game, New England isolated safety Cole Bishop.
Bishop got beaten on both Romeo Doubs catches on that drive, including the TD. Remember that name, too.
After that, it was 2025 first-round pick Maxwell Hairston’s turn.
Other than the first Efton Chism catch on the final drive, the Patriots stayed away from C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Hairston was just too easy to target.
New England did it repeatedly, including the Chism game-winning catch.
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Henry game-clincher was brilliant
When the Patriots needed a play on third-and-10 inside the final two minutes to ice it, they again called on Bishop.
Bishop had Hunter Henry, who faked a block and then ran to the right flat, on that play. Maye rolled right, looking for Henry.
Bishop went left for unknown reasons and it was an easy pitch-and-catch for the first down and the win.
Maye finished his day at 22 of 37 for 269 yards and three TD passes with one interception. He also led the Patriots in rushing with 54 yards on eight carries. Those numbers, plus the upset win, made him a prime candidate for the Player of the Week.
But he has to know how he got there.
McDaniels dominated the Bills, and it could not have come at a better time.
