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Mike Reiss
FOXBOROUGH, Mass — Swift observations and insights focusing on the New England Patriots and the broader NFL landscape:
1. Diggs’ Milestone: In a buoyant Patriots’ dressing area last Sunday, head coach Mike Vrabel highlighted veteran wideout Stefon Diggs achieving his 900th career catch, which elicited a celebratory response from his fellow players.
Diggs joined the ranks of the 29th NFL player to reach this milestone, with only a handful surpassing his speed in attaining it within their 153rd game: Keenan Allen (139), Antonio Brown (143) Marvin Harrison (149) and Andre Johnson (150).
He wasn’t directly questioned about the landmark following the game, nor did it surface during his customary Wednesday media interaction at his designated locker spot. Hence, when the subject was introduced to Diggs subsequent to the week’s concluding practice on Friday, the 31-year-old showcased a grin (Johnson holds a place among his all-time favorites) and cut straight to his central aspiration. Personal statistics are valuable, but …
“Everyone is familiar with my ultimate goal,” he stated.
Diggs, while seated at his locker, faced a query seeking confirmation that this alluded to a championship victory. He affirmed with a nod.
Considered a prime inspirational presence within the Patriots’ impressive 7-2 commencement to the season, Diggs propels the team forward this Sunday in an away matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, CBS). He conveyed to teammates that this contest possesses the capability to underscore their status as a formidable unit, stemming from his profound esteem for Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive strategist Todd Bowles’ intense scheme.
Simultaneously, within the Patriots’ locker room and among the coaching staff, Diggs’ 900-reception benchmark served as a focal point for players and coaches to express their appreciation for the influence he’s cultivated since inking a three-year, $69 million arrangement as a free agent back in March.
“Whenever an individual brings a history of significant achievements, it naturally piques curiosity concerning their integration and the subsequent dynamics. Diggs has proven to be exceptional,” conveyed seasoned quarterback Joshua Dobbs, whose locker is adjacent to Diggs’.
“The proactive leadership role he’s embraced within the team. The unselfish demeanor he’s adopted. Furthermore, his effective communication skills are evident — he’s raising insightful questions, maintaining sharp attention on the defensive arrangements, and ensuring his positioning aligns strategically to optimize our opportunities to connect with him. He’s showcased exceptional aptitude in this realm throughout his career, and witnessing this accomplishment — amassing 900 receptions represents a substantial feat.”
Diggs stands among the players who deliver pre-game motivational speeches on the field in the moments preceding kickoff, frequently contributing a heightened intensity to a roster that began the year ranking as the NFL’s fourth youngest.
“When examining his overall constitution and persona, it becomes evident that Stef exudes an energetic and intensely competitive mindset,” Vrabel remarked when probed regarding the factors contributing to Diggs’ impressive accumulation of catches. “Succeeding at any position within this league mandates a specific set of abilities, but I firmly believe that his innate competitiveness has played a pivotal role in his achievements across various settings.”
Diggs secured 365 receptions while with Minnesota (2015-2019), subsequently accumulating 445 during his tenure in Buffalo (2020-2023), followed by 47 in a 2024 season compromised by injury in Houston. He enters Sunday’s game leading the team with 45 catches for 508 yards and two touchdowns, having participated in 55% of the offensive plays since his recovery from a torn right ACL.
“Evidently, Diggsy demonstrated remarkable recovery speed from his condition,” Vrabel acknowledged. “Individual recuperation rates vary notably.”
2. Defensive Play Constraints: Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith abstained from offering rationalizations for decreased sack production (20 across nine contests), stressing foremost the continuous capacity for enhancement. Smith similarly highlighted that quarterbacks’ swift ball releases constitute a contributing factor in diminished sack tallies, alongside restricted opportunities linked to play count.
Indeed, the Patriots record an average of 55.2 defensive plays per contest, which places them second lowest in the NFL, trailing only the Chiefs (54.1). Compare this with the Packers, who have engaged in an equivalent quantity of defensive snaps (497) to the Patriots within one fewer game, whereas Sunday’s adversary (Tampa Bay) averages 61.8 defensive plays per contest.
This underscores a critical aspect of New England’s overall defensive proficiency: Diminished opportunities for opposing offenses to score correlate with decreased field presence.
3. Abbreviated Training Sessions: A noteworthy development occurred discreetly last week, with Vrabel optimizing the team’s training regimen to condense players’ duration on the field.
The Patriots are navigating their 10th consecutive week featuring a game immediately following training camp, further compounded by an imminent short turnaround preceding a home contest against the Jets on Thursday.
Vrabel indicated that this strategy aimed to harmonize with the Buccaneers’ energy, given their emergence from a bye week, elaborating on his collaborative discussions with the athletic training, strength, and nutrition personnel: “We’ve engaged in comprehensive dialogues to evaluate the specific requirements of each player and the collective needs of the team.”
4. Davis’ Homecoming: Experienced cornerback Carlton Davis III, who formalized a three-year, $54 million free agent agreement with the Patriots in March, prepares to revisit Raymond James Stadium for the first occasion as a visiting competitor this Sunday.
Davis dedicated the initial six years of his professional journey to the Buccaneers, participating in a Super Bowl victory during the 2020 season under the leadership of Tom Brady, Tampa Bay’s quarterback at that time. He acknowledged experiencing initial disappointment upon being traded from the Buccaneers to the Detroit Lions in March 2024. However, the passage of time has mitigated those sentiments, fostering appreciation for his experiences playing for both the Lions and now the Patriots.
Within New England, Davis has garnered recognition for his resilient style (nine starts, 32 tackles, three pass breakups).
“He displays a resilient nature. He’s cultivated a career founded on toughness and a competitive edge,” noted cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton. “Few cornerbacks demonstrate a track record of enduring a fractured jaw resulting from a ‘crack-replace’ maneuver while simultaneously executing a tackle, and displaying a readiness to engage physically.”
5. Jennings’ Delivery Arrangement: Should first-year running back Terrell Jennings’ carry-on luggage appear slightly more substantial than usual this week, there’s justifiable cause. He shared that he will be transporting the football commemorating his first NFL touchdown from the preceding week to Florida to personally present it to his mother, LaTonya, who resides approximately 90 minutes from Tampa.
I’m home waiting for it!! See you in Tampa son 💙❤️
— LaTonya Nelson (@thatsMyBoyyy23) November 2, 2025
6. Premium Ticket Demand: The highly anticipated Patriots-Buccaneers clash commands an average ticket price of $340, according to Vivid Seats. This positions it as Tampa Bay’s most expensive home ticket thus far this season and the Patriots’ priciest road ticket to date — surpassing the $295.58 average valuation for Week 5’s faceoff against the Bills. This surge in demand may stem from enthusiastic Patriots supporters who have recently thronged opposing stadiums in New Orleans and Tennessee.
7. Financial Review: The Patriots currently hold the 17th spot in the NFL regarding cash expenditure for 2025, totaling $300,356,552, as reported by Roster Management System. In an observation emphasizing that financial investment alone does not guarantee triumphs, the 4-4 Vikings lead the league in cash spending ($343,611,014), while the 6-2 Rams ($236,023,129) and 6-2 Seahawks ($250,779,102) — both exhibiting Super Bowl contender potential — rank as the NFL’s lowest cash spenders.
8. Mike’s Facial Hair: Vrabel hasn’t abandoned grooming; his rapidly developing mustache is part of his involvement in “Movember,” the annual November initiative dedicated to raising funds and awareness concerning men’s health issues.
Vrabel’s close confidant Terrell Williams, the defensive coordinator, received a prostate cancer diagnosis earlier this season, underscoring the personal significance of this cause for Vrabel this year. “You’ll find me almost unrecognizable in a week’s time. It will be quite prominent.”
9. Connection through Lester: Practice squad safety Richie Grant, who attended high school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, stumbled upon an unexpected tie to the Patriots while perusing vintage photos of championship-winning teams displayed within the facility.
His uncle on his grandfather’s side, Lester Williams, fulfilled the role of nose tackle for the Patriots spanning from 1982 to ’85, participating in 42 games and initiating 13, culminating in the team’s 46-10 defeat against the Bears during Super Bowl XX. Grant and Williams first connected when Grant was 8 years old.
10. Interesting Fact: Fourth-year Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones has successfully returned 70 punts for a total of 1,000 yards throughout his career — yielding an average of 14.3 yards per return. With five additional punt returns, Jones will qualify for inclusion among the NFL’s career leaders, and his current 14.3-yard average would secure the top position, surpassing Chicago’s George McAfee (12.8 avg. across 1940-41, 1945-50).
