FOXBOROUGH - First things first, Stefon Diggs wants you to know he’s healthy.
“I'm great. I feel great. I got no issues,” he said. “I've been feeling pretty good, actually, and we had that by week, so I feel ready to fly around.”
Sunday’s game tape concurs. I don’t know that Diggs is moving as he did in Week 4 versus Carolina or at Buffalo the following game, but there’s nothing detectable in his gait to suggest - as some have - that the now 32-year-old wide receiver is injured/hurt. His production, however, has declined. Of that, there can be no argument.
- 2 catches, 20 yards at Cincinnati, November 23.
- 3 catches, 26 yards vs. the Giants, December 1
- 3 catches, 26 yards vs. Bills, December 14
For the Patriots’ best pass catcher to consistently make very little impact statistically is not what this offense needs, especially when the others around him are role players - albeit ones that have generally thrived when Drake Maye is cooking. But when Maye scuffles, and boy did he ever during the second half on Sunday, they needed more from Diggs, and he didn’t provide it.
Part of that was the scheme. The Bills were more aggressive in doubling Diggs at key junctures, something they had neglected a couple of months ago. But even without their top corner (Christian Benford missed the game with an injury), Buffalo also had no problem singling Diggs up with the likes of nickel corner Taron Johnson or rookie Maxwell Hairston or even, on occasion, Tre’Davious White. Diggs managed exactly one catch vs. man (on the 3rd down crossing route).
“They haven't done nothing they haven't done all year,” Diggs claimed. “So I'm gonna just continue to do my job. It's a team sport, so just gotta take things in stride. And, you know, control what I can control...”
Having better releases versus
