Key Takeaways

• Efton Chism III delivered the game-winning play for the Patriots with a diving, one-handed catch in the end zone, securing a 29-26 lead with 1:50 left.
• Bills cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson called the catch a fluke and labeled Chism a 'practice squad player,' prompting a sharp rebuttal from Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
• Vrabel defeated the jab with a Sunday radio reply saying Gardner-Johnson has already moved between several teams, framing the remark as bulletin board material rather than a critique of Chism’s performance.
• Chism is a second-year NFL wide receiver from Eastern Washington, where he set school records and earned FCS first-team All-American honors; he joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2025 and has had limited action prior to this pivotal game.
• In the current season, Chism had a handful of targets and four receptions for 41 yards, with the Week 17 performance earlier highlighting his potential before the game-winning catch.
• New England and Buffalo are scheduled to meet again in Week 13, giving Chism another platform to demonstrate his ability to replicate the highlight in a high-stakes matchup.
• The victory positions the Patriots favorably in the early-season divisional race and reinforces Vrabel’s confidence in a young receiver stepping up in a critical moment.