3 Storylines To Know Ahead Of Week 6: Patch Patriots Roundup

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The New England Patriots are set up to cruise into the latter months of the season after a huge win at Buffalo, but they'll need to be leery of the ever-scary trap game.

The Patriots will face the New Orleans Saints, coming off the team's first win of the year, in Week 6.

New England sits at 3-2 as they head to New Orleans for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sunday. Here are three storylines to know ahead of the matchup.

A Big Win In Buffalo

The Patriots rebuild took a major step in the right direction when the team went into Buffalo and took down the previously unbeaten Bills.

Of course, the major storyline will be the performance of Drake Maye, who Musket Fire, a Patriots team site, pointed out has a completion percentage of 73.9 percent thus far in the 2025 season. The highest total ever was set by Drew Brees during the 2018 season at 74.4 percent.

Suffice to say, Maye is playing well in his second year.

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But, of course, it wasn't just Maye. Last week, this column took some time to point out that Stefon Diggs was returning to Buffalo for the first time since his departure. He also returned to pre-injury form in the game, putting up a stat line that included 10 catches for 146 yards.

There's Always A Belichick Angle

Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels football program are not having a good year, and the beef with his old team seems to be creeping deeper and deeper.

According to a local reporter in North Carolina, Ross Martin, sources inside the UNC program said it's a directive from Belichick to refrain from posting any Patriots players on the team's social media accounts.

That includes the most prominent former North Carolina player currently in the league, quarterback Drake Maye. It's likely the story broke this week as the team had yet to share anything on social media after Maye's performance in New England's win against Buffalo.

Josh McDaniels Is Thriving As OC, And He Knows It

Let's be very honest for a moment about Josh McDaniels.

The Patriots offensive coordinator is one of the best playcallers in the modern era, and was a key cog of many of the Patriots dynasty years. He is also an awful head coach.

McDaniels was asked this week if he'd be content sticking at OC with Maye or if he still has desires of returning to the head coaching ranks.

Call it maturing with age or something else, but McDaniels seems to have clocked that he's best as an offensive coordinator.

"I love living in New England. That's the short of it," said McDaniels, according to the Boston Herald's Doug Kyed. "I just try to focus on now, really enjoying coaching for Mike. ...That would be surprising if I moved my kids out of Westwood."

How To Catch The Game

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

TV: CBS

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub