New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots clinched a spot in the playoffs with their 28-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens on “Sunday Night Football.”
While he did not have a touchdown, Stefon Diggs continued to show why the Patriots made the right decision by signing him to a three-year deal in the offseason. Diggs had nine receptions for 138 yards against the Ravens. The Maryland native had plenty of friends in family in attendance to watch his 40th 100-yard game, per MassLive’s Mark Daniels.
Diggs was not the Patriots’ first choice last offseason, however. The team reportedly pursued a trade for Brandon Aiyuk and tried to sign Chris Godwin, who decided to stay in Tampa Bay for less money. That fact is not lost on Diggs.
“Yeah, they were thinking about signing those other guys,” Diggs told Daniels after the game. “And I know all those other guys they were thinking about signing.”
Diggs has 76 receptions for 869 yards and three touchdowns this season. That’s more catches, yards and touchdowns than Godwin and Aiyuk combined this year. Aiyuk has not played a game and Godwin has struggled to stay healthy.
The Patriots’ move to sign Diggs was not one without risk. The four-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro was 31 years old and tore his ACL with the Houston Texans during the 2024 season.
“When they told me I had an opportunity to come in, I jumped at it,” Diggs said of the Patriots, per Daniels. “Teams don’t really like to sign guys, you know, over 30, just coming off of ACL (surgery), so it’s just more motivation for me to come out and be myself. I know being myself is going to be enough.”
Diggs has been a key part of the Patriots’ return to the playoffs, and with two games remaining, he has the chance to be a 1,000-yard receiver for the seventh time in his career.
