In a Week 15 AFC East clash that’s lived up to every bit of the hype-and then some-the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills are trading haymakers in a game that’s been anything but predictable. And while rookie quarterback Drake Maye is usually the one slinging passes, it was his hustle and heart on a block that helped spring one of the game’s most electric plays.
Down 28-24 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots turned to another rookie, running back TreVeyon Henderson, and he delivered in a massive way-ripping off a 65-yard touchdown run that flipped the momentum. The play had everything: vision, burst, and a downfield escort in Maye, who wasn’t just watching the play develop-he was helping make it happen.
Maye got out in front and threw a key block, helping to clear the lane for Henderson to hit the jets and blaze into the end zone. According to team tracking data, Henderson hit a top speed of 21.25 mph on the run, while Maye wasn’t far behind at 20.58 mph.
That’s not just a quarterback showing effort-that’s a quarterback competing like a running back.
It was the kind of play that defines a team’s identity. Henderson’s breakaway score wasn’t just a highlight-it was a statement. And it came in the middle of a game that’s been full of wild swings.
New England came out of the gates firing, jumping out to a 21-7 lead by halftime. But as we’ve seen time and again, no lead is safe against Josh Allen and the Bills.
Buffalo came out of the locker room with a vengeance, rattling off 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to tie things up. Then came the fourth quarter fireworks.
Allen opened the final frame by finding tight end Dawson Knox for a 14-yard touchdown, giving the Bills their first lead of the game. But just when it looked like the momentum had fully swung, Henderson flipped the script with his long touchdown run, putting the Patriots back on top. Not to be outdone, Buffalo responded with an 11-yard rushing score from James Cook, reclaiming the lead once again-35-31, with just over five minutes left on the clock.
This one’s been a rollercoaster, and it’s far from over.
If the Patriots are going to pull this off and lock up the AFC East, they’ll need Maye to dig deep in the game’s final moments. So far, it’s been a mixed bag for the rookie QB.
He’s completed 13 of 20 passes for 150 yards and an interception, but he’s made up for it with his legs-adding 43 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. And that block on Henderson’s touchdown?
That tells you everything you need to know about the kind of competitor Maye is.
Regardless of how this one ends, New England’s future looks bright. Between Maye’s dual-threat ability and Henderson’s game-breaking speed, the Patriots are building something real on offense.
They’ve found a young core that’s not just producing-they’re battling. And in a division as tough as the AFC East, that fight matters just as much as the talent.