The New England Patriots made a big statement with their win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Head coach Mike Vrabel also made it clear how he felt about Drake Maye's performance against Josh Allen.
The Patriots beat the Bills 29-26 in an exciting Week 4 game at Highmark Stadium, giving Buffalo its first loss of the 2026 NFL season. Maye was key to the upset, showing toughness against one of the league's top quarterbacks.
After the game, ESPN's Mike Reiss posted Vrabel's take on the win on X (formerly Twitter).
“Gets us back in the race. Josh is unbelievable. Felt like Drake went toe to toe with him, “Vrabel's comments show how important Sunday's win was for New England. After a rough start to the season, the Patriots really needed a result to turn things around in the AFC East.
Article Continues BelowMaye also played well against Allen, one of the NFL's toughest quarterbacks. Instead of backing down, the young Patriots quarterback helped his team get a big divisional win.
This win gives New England a big confidence boost as they try to build on last season's success.
For Maye, matching up with Allen is another big step in his growth. The Patriots quarterback has faced higher expectations after a strong 2025 season, and Sunday's game showed everyone what he can do. With the AFC East race still wide open, Vrabel's team has given itself a chance to compete.
If Maye keeps playing like this, the Patriots could become a much bigger threat in the division than people thought.