Drake Maye isn’t dancing around the stakes. For the New England Patriots, Week 15 isn’t just another game - it’s a statement opportunity. With the AFC East hanging in the balance and the Buffalo Bills coming to town, Maye made it clear: this is a must-win.
“I think it’s really important to do it here. Do it while you have a chance to face them head-to-head,” Maye said this week. “We’re chasing them.”
That last line says a lot. Even with the Patriots sitting at 11-2 and holding a two-game edge over the 9-4 Bills, Maye knows the recent history.
Buffalo’s had a firm grip on the division in recent seasons, and the Patriots - despite their record - are still trying to reclaim the throne. A win this Sunday would do just that, locking up New England’s first AFC East title since 2019 and keeping the pressure on Denver in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
And Maye? He’s not just talking the talk.
He’s already beaten the Bills once this season, back in Week 5, when he threw for 273 yards and led a gutsy, game-winning drive capped off by a 52-yard field goal. That performance wasn’t just a flash - it was a sign of what’s been building in Foxborough all year.
New England enters this matchup riding a 10-game winning streak, and they’re doing it with one of the league’s most efficient and explosive passing attacks. The Patriots currently rank second in the NFL in passing yards per game (249), and Maye has been the engine behind it all.
In just his second season, he’s thrown for over 3,400 yards and accounted for 25 total touchdowns. But beyond the numbers, it’s the command he’s shown that’s turned heads - the poise in the pocket, the control at the line, and the ability to elevate the players around him.
This season has been a complete turnaround under head coach Mike Vrabel. After back-to-back four-win campaigns, the Patriots have flipped the script.
They’re no longer trying to find their footing - they’re dictating the pace in the AFC. And with the playoffs all but secured, Sunday’s game is about more than just clinching the division.
It’s about setting the tone for what they believe could be a deep postseason run.
Maye understands that. He’s not looking to back into a division title.
He wants to take it - and take it from the team that’s had it for years. A win over Buffalo would do more than just clinch the AFC East.
It would send a message: the Patriots are back, and they’re not just here to compete - they’re here to contend.
Sunday’s showdown isn’t just a divisional clash. It’s a defining moment in the AFC playoff picture, and for the Patriots, it’s a chance to officially close the door on the past and step fully into a new era.