Drake Maye’s Three Touchdowns Hold Off Josh Allen and Bills in 29-26 Patriots Win
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes and added 54 rushing yards to lead New England past Buffalo 29–26 on October 4, 2026. Despite Josh Allen's solid day through the air and on the ground, the Patriots edged the Bills in a close Week 4 NFL matchup.
Rundown · Listed by game date. First published Oct 4, 2026.
Drake Maye completed 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns while rushing eight times for 54 yards as the New England Patriots narrowly defeated the Buffalo Bills 29–26 on October 4, 2026. Maye’s balanced offensive production provided a crucial edge in a tightly contested game.
Buffalo’s Josh Allen finished with 23 completions on 33 attempts for 253 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also contributed on the ground, rushing five times for four yards and a touchdown. Allen’s primary receiving threat, Keon Coleman, had six receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown, standing out as Buffalo’s top target.
The Bills supplemented their attack with James Cook III carrying the ball 12 times for 75 yards and a touchdown. While the Bills managed to score 26 points, their efforts fell short against New England’s consistent scoring across all four quarters.
New England’s offense was not one-dimensional. Rhamondre Stevenson contributed 47 rushing yards on 13 carries along with a touchdown, complementing Maye’s passing success. Tight end Hunter Henry’s five catches for 62 yards provided a steady presence across the middle.
Though Buffalo flashed offensive strengths, Maye’s ability to mix effective passing with timely rushing kept the Patriots ahead. New England scored touchdowns in each quarter, including a productive fourth quarter scoring 8 points to maintain the lead. The narrow margin underscores the competitive nature of the matchup.
Maye’s performance, combining three passing touchdowns with a significant rushing presence, was central to New England’s victory. For Buffalo, Josh Allen’s solid statistical output wasn’t enough to overcome the Patriots’ multi-faceted attack. The game suggests that New England’s rookie quarterback can handle substantial responsibility and deliver on the scoreboard, a promising factor as the season progresses.
Official Game Highlights
- Game scores and player statistics supplied by BALLDONTLIE.
Corner Wire covers MLB, NFL and NBA through its own newsroom. Send a correction.