Stefon Diggs Heads to Super Bowl with Patriots - and Sends a Message Buffalo Won’t Miss
For Buffalo Bills fans, this postseason is hitting a little too close to home - and not in a good way. Their team is once again watching the Super Bowl from the couch, while the New England Patriots - yes, those Patriots - are heading back to the big game. And just to twist the knife a little deeper, Stefon Diggs, the former face of Buffalo’s receiving corps, is going with them.
Two years removed from a rocky split with the Bills, Diggs is now a key piece in New England’s resurgence. His arrival in Foxborough raised eyebrows when it happened, but now it’s raising banners - or at least putting the Patriots in position to do so.
After New England’s gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in a snow-covered AFC Championship Game, Diggs stepped to the podium, clearly emotional. When asked about Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, Diggs didn’t hold back: “Probably the best coach I’ve ever had.”
Now, that might sound like a throwaway line in the moment, but context matters. Diggs isn’t a rookie still learning the ropes - he’s a veteran who’s played under multiple coaching staffs across four different teams.
That includes a successful run in Buffalo under Sean McDermott, where Diggs put up All-Pro numbers and helped lead the Bills to multiple playoff appearances. So when he gives Vrabel that kind of praise - unprompted and with that level of certainty - it’s hard not to interpret it as a subtle jab at his former team.
To be clear, Vrabel has done a masterful job since taking over in New England. He’s reignited a franchise that had lost its way post-Brady, and he’s done it with a physical, disciplined brand of football that fits the Patriots’ DNA. But for Bills fans, Diggs’ quick pivot from his Buffalo years to full-on Patriot mode is going to sting.
On the field, Diggs didn’t light up the stat sheet in the AFC title game. He finished with five catches on six targets, but totaled just 17 yards - all of his receptions coming within six yards of the line of scrimmage.
In a game dominated by snow, wind, and ground-and-pound football, the passing game was an afterthought. Still, Diggs played his role, moving the chains when needed and helping the Patriots control the tempo.
His impact this season, though, goes far beyond the box score. Diggs has become the go-to target in New England’s offense, bringing big-play ability, veteran leadership, and a swagger that had been missing from the Patriots’ receiving corps. He’s also brought a chip on his shoulder - one that seems to grow every time he talks about his new team.
For Buffalo, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Watching the Patriots back in the Super Bowl is bad enough.
Watching Diggs - once the centerpiece of their offense - suit up in blue and silver on the game’s biggest stage? That’s a gut punch.
The Bills believed they were building something special with Diggs. For a while, they were. But now, as the Patriots prepare for another shot at a title, it’s clear that Diggs has turned the page - and he’s not looking back.