Stefon Diggs Remains Unimpressed With Patriots After Week 7 Win
It would be easy, after the performance of the Patriots in the Week 7 win over the Titans, in which they won their fourth straight game–including three on the road–for the team’s fans and for the wider universe of NFL observers to forget the advice doled out by star receiver Stefon Diggs last week. While some are hyping quarterback Drake Maye as the next Big Thing in the league, and tabbing the Patriots as AFC contenders, Diggs is reminding his teammates that this is no time to start drinking, as he said, “the Kool Aid.”
Diggs went for seven catches and 69 yards on Sunday, another WR1 showing from him. Maye was 21-for-23 passing for 222 yards, with several beautiful throws, including one for a Kayshon Boutte touchdown. The defense held the Titans to 255 yards and forced two turnovers, while the Patriots did not turn it over at all–they’ve now had one turnover in their last four games.
At 5-2 and atop the AFC East, and at No. 2 in the conference, the Patriots look like something special. Diggs was asked just that after Sunday’s game: Do they have something special going?
“No,” Diggs said.
Stefon Diggs: ‘Just Meshing Really Well’
He did explain, of course. The win over the Titans was big, and with three straight road games, it would be understandable if a team like the Patriots–packed with young players–might be mentally tired. But Diggs said it’d be a bad idea for this team to think it already is special.
“I feel like right now, we are just meshing really well. We’re still growing and going in the direction,” Diggs said. “You don’t want to put the carriage before the horse and jump out there with statements and stuff like that.
Diggs said that “something special” does not happen until later in the season, when guys have spent enough time together.
“You spend a lot of time with a guy. You get to know him personally,” Diggs said. “You know, you want to go out there and play hard, and you want them to do well. You want guys to play well at a high level. You know I just think, to say something special, we’ll figure it out at the end.”
Patriots Drake Maye Just ‘Being a Quarterback’
Diggs was asked, too, for his thoughts on Maye’s performance, which was nearly flawless. If you thought Diggs was going to hand flowers to Maye on this day, you’ve not been paying attention to the veteran Patriots star.
Maye was fine, according to Diggs, but he was doing what a guy in his position should do.
“He’s being a quarterback,” Diggs said. “It’s easy to say that, but he’s finding an open man. Guys are making plays for him. Tight ends are playing well, running backs catching the ball. Receivers, everybody’s just doing their job. Try not to give it too much, but you want to give to the media to kind of figure that thing out.
“But when you see a guy in practice, put a lot of time in it, approach this thing the right way, there’s no surprise to us. Hopefully, you go 22-for-22. So try not to give it too much.”
Stefon Diggs Keeping Patriots Focus on Win No. 6
Indeed, it’s probably a good thing the Patriots have a voice like that of Diggs in the locker room right now. They are 5-2, with an impressive win over Buffalo on the docket, but the four other wins have come against the Dolphins, Panthers, Saints and Titans. They have a combined 7-21 record.
The Patriots have the 2-5 Browns next, but Cleveland has beaten Green Bay and drubbed Miami in Week 7.
“Right now, we just want six,” Diggs said. “Getting back in, I think they [Cleveland Browns] had a hell of a game, they just beat the Miami Dolphins. And that’s a good team, so enjoy this for six hours. I’m not even going to give it half a day. And then when we get back to the film room, we got to get up early.
“So, I just think that it’s a lot more out there. It’s not so much about the other teams. It’s much more about us.”
Dan Campbell’s message to Lions players after ugly Packers loss
The Detroit Lions opened the season with a dud against the Green Bay Packers, and head coach Dan Campbell didn’t sugarcoat it. His team looked out of sync in all three phases, and yet, Campbell carried a message of calm in the locker room. He admitted it stung to stumble right out of the gate, but he also made clear he wasn’t pushing the panic button, via Eric Woodyard of ESPN on X, formerly Twitter.
“Like I told the team, it’s tough to go in and not certainly play close to your best game and you hate to start the season off with a loss,” Campbell said after the defeat. “But as bad as that is, it’s not what it appears to be.”
That last line stood out. For a team hyped as NFC contenders, it would be easy to spiral after an ugly opener against a rival. The Lions were sloppy on offense and inconsistent on defense. Jared Goff never found rhythm, and the run game offered little relief. The Packers turned mistakes into points, and the game felt done before Detroit had a chance to fight back.
Still, Campbell’s mindset is clear. This loss doesn’t define his team. He didn’t dismiss the frustration of an opening-week letdown, but he wants his players to understand the bigger picture. One loss in early September is not a death sentence for a group built to compete into January.
The message also fits Campbell’s style. He has always leaned into resilience and energy, a coach who rides the highs and lows without letting them consume the team. If he believes this game isn’t as bad as it looked, he’s likely searching for positives behind the sloppy execution. Coaches often say film study tells the real story, and Campbell seems to believe correction is more important than panic.
For Detroit’s players, that kind of reinforcement matters after a rough night. Veterans like Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown will need to reset quickly, while young stars on defense must shake off early mistakes. The NFC North race is a marathon, not a sprint, and Campbell is reminding everyone of that.
The Lions will have to respond fast, though. Fans expected this season to start with a statement, not a stumble. Campbell’s optimism may be exactly what the locker room needs, but execution has to follow.
