Who stood out and struggled against Bills

New England Patriots

Stefon Diggs took over against his former team and helped deliver a win.

The Patriots’ best players came up big in their first primetime test of the season.

Drake Maye orchestrated a game-winning drive. Stefon Diggs was the best receiver on the field. Christian Gonzalez produced a huge stop when the Patriots were on the ropes. Christian Barmore and Milton Williams wreaked havoc.

New England secured its biggest win in years on a last-minute kick from Andy Borregales.

Here’s a look at the players who stood out and struggled in the Patriots’ 23-20 victory:

Stock Up

Drake Maye

Maye turned in another efficient performance and avoided turnovers.

Normally, he spreads the ball around pretty evenly, but it was clear that he had it going with Diggs and Hunter Henry.

Maye set up New England’s fist touchdown with his legs, and he made big throws late that led to 14 fourth-quarter points.

Stefon Diggs

Diggs brought his A-game against his former team, notching his second-straight 100-yard performance.

From a toe-tapping sideline catch to making defenders miss in the open field, Diggs made plays that moved the needle in this game.

It looks like he’s regaining some of the explosiveness that wasn’t there at the very beginning of the season. He had a quick return to play from his offseason ACL surgery, and it’s taken him a bit to put it all together on the field.

Ten catches for 146 yards in a primetime game is exactly what you want from a No. 1 receiver. His grab in the fourth quarter when Maye stiff-armed a defender and flung it away was the play of the night.

Marcus Jones

Last week, Jones sparked the Patriots in the return game. This week, he made plays on defense that helped set the tone.

He had an early pass-breakup against Keon Coleman for a key third down stop. He jumped in front of Khalil Shakir and picked off Josh Allen inside the red zone late in the third quarter.

He chipped in four tackles, including two for loss to go with a pair of pass breakups.

Milton Williams

Williams, who had missed some practice time with an ankle injury this week, added another half-sack to his total. Allen tried to step up in the pocket, and ran right into Williams and a blitzing Jaylinn Hawkins.

Willaims and Barmore both applied significant pressure and found themselves in the Buffalo backfield consistently. Allen had some quick releases on throws that helped him avoid sacks, but Williams and the Patriots’ front seven didn’t make it easy on hm.

Christian Gonzalez

Gonzalez made a key stop on Buffalo’s final drive, diving in to break up a pass intended for Shakir and forcing the Bills to settle for a game-tying field-goal instead of having a shot at a go-ahead touchdown. He also chipped in six tackles.

The Bills’ receivers didn’t have much of an impact on this game. Tight-end Dalton Kincaid did the bulk of the damage.

One point of criticism: It did look like Gonzalez sprinted over to pick up Kincaid when there was plenty of help on the inside, while leaving Curtis Samuel wide open for a 6-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

But, ultimately, Gonzalez had a good game and delivered a stop when the Patriots really needed one.

Andy Borregales

Borregales nailed the go-ahead 52-yarder right down the middle with 20 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.

The rookie had a rough start to the season, but he rose to the occasion in his first opportunity with the game on the line against the reigning division champs.

He went 3-for-3 on field-gals and 2-for-2 on extra points.

Stock Flat

Hunter Henry

Henry was his usual consistent self.

He came into the game averaging 51 yards per game and added 46 in this one with a pair of 20-plus yard catches.

He’s a big target for Maye who can usually be penciled in for a couple of big catches per game. Tonight was no different.

Kayshon Boutte

Boutte hasn’t been getting the ball much recently, but he made the most of his opportunities Sunday night.

He caught all three of his targets, finishing with three catches for 43 yards. He got some key first downs when New England needed them.

Stock Down

Rhamondre Stevenson

Stevenson scored both of New England’s touchdowns.

But the bigger story here is the continuation of his fumbling issues. He had the ball punched out at the end of a four-yard catch in the first quarter. It’s his third fumble in five games, and his ninth within the last two seasons.

Mike Vrabel has taken a patient approach with Stevenson, and Antonio Gibson leaving the game with a knee injury certainly doesn’t help the Patriots’ depth at the position. He’ll have to hang onto the football if he wants to keep his job.

Keion White

With K’Lavon Chaisson out, White had a prime opportunity to make some noise.

He finished with one tackle. Five games in, he has five tackles, no tackles for loss, and no sacks in a role that’s smaller than the one he had last year.

Khari A. Thompson

Sports Reporter

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.