Stefon Diggs Quietly Closing in on Another 1,000-Yard Season as Patriots Find Late-Season Rhythm
After a gritty 28-24 win over the Ravens on Sunday night, Stefon Diggs didn’t make a ton of noise postgame-but his stat line sure did.
Diggs hauled in 9 catches for 138 yards, including three clutch grabs for 39 yards in the fourth quarter alone. It was the kind of performance we’ve come to expect from the veteran wideout, who’s made a career out of delivering when it matters most. And now, with two games left on the calendar, he’s just 131 yards away from hitting the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
That’s no small feat-especially in a year where his snap count has fluctuated and the Patriots offense has gone through its share of growing pains. But Diggs is sitting at 76 catches for 869 yards, and if he can average 66 yards per game the rest of the way, he’ll notch his seventh 1,000-yard season in the last seven years when playing at least 15 games.
The road to that milestone starts this Sunday against the Jets-a team he’s already torched once this season. Back in Week 11 on Thursday Night Football, Diggs turned in one of his best games of the year, catching 9 passes for 105 yards in a 27-24 Patriots win. That was also the last time he saw significant playing time before this past weekend.
Over the last month, Diggs had seen his snap counts dip-47.9% against the Bengals in Week 12, 47.7% against the Giants in Week 13, and 50% against the Bills in Week 15. But against Baltimore, that number jumped to 59.5%, his highest since that Week 11 Jets game, where he was on the field for 68.7% of offensive snaps.
And there’s a good chance that number climbs again this weekend. With Kayshon Boutte (concussion) and Demario Douglas (leg) both dealing with injuries, Diggs could be in line for a heavier workload. If so, he’ll have every opportunity to continue his late-season surge.
But it’s not just about what Diggs does with the ball in his hands-his presence alone is having a ripple effect across the Patriots offense.
When Diggs is on the field, rookie quarterback Drake Maye has been noticeably more efficient. With Diggs out there, Maye has completed 74.7% of his passes (233-for-312) for 2,728 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.
Without Diggs? That completion percentage drops to 62.4% (141-for-227), with just 1,219 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 2 picks.
And it’s not just Maye who benefits. The rest of the receiving corps sees a bump too. Hunter Henry, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins-across the board, their catch rates and yardage numbers are stronger when Diggs is lined up alongside them.
Here’s a quick snapshot:
| Player | With Diggs | Without Diggs |
|---|
| Stefon Diggs | 93 targets, 76 catches, 869 yds (11.4 YPR) | - | | Hunter Henry | 53 targets, 37 catches, 439 yds (11.9 YPR) | 25 targets, 15 catches, 224 yds (14.9 YPR) |
| Kayshon Boutte| 25 targets, 21 catches, 371 yds (17.7 YPR) | 16 targets, 10 catches, 156 yds (15.6 YPR) | | Mack Hollins | 37 targets, 27 catches, 317 yds (11.7 YPR) | 28 targets, 19 catches, 233 yds (12.3 YPR) |
| Demario Douglas| 19 targets, 13 catches, 187 yds (14.4 YPR) | 21 targets, 14 catches, 209 yds (14.9 YPR) | | Austin Hooper | 12 targets, 9 catches, 132 yds (14.7 YPR) | 11 targets, 9 catches, 115 yds (12.8 YPR) |
| Kyle Williams | 11 targets, 4 catches, 91 yds (22.8 YPR) | 5 targets, 3 catches, 98 yds (32.7 YPR) |
The numbers speak for themselves. When Diggs is on the field, this offense hums at a different frequency.
He stretches defenses, draws attention, and opens up space for everyone else to operate. Whether he's getting the ball or not, his impact is undeniable.
And inside the locker room, his value goes beyond the stat sheet.
“Diggs, people have no idea what he means to this team,” Maye said after Sunday’s win. “He’s a leader.
He’s been great in the locker room. He wants the football in his hand.”
“He just keeps showing up and making plays, and he’s doing it at a really high level. He’s bouncing back, he’s vocal, and he’s awesome to play with.”
With two games left, the Patriots are still figuring out who they are offensively. But one thing is clear: when Stefon Diggs is on the field, they’re a better football team.
And if he keeps this up, 1,000 yards won’t just be a milestone-it’ll be another reminder that even in a new uniform, Diggs is still one of the most reliable playmakers in the game.