Rising Rookie: Demario Douglas Helps New England Patriots Upset Buffalo Bills

If Demario Douglas' Sunday showing proves sustainable, the New England Patriots have an exciting young weapon to work with.

There is a sense of macabre peace when it comes to consequence-free football. 

No longer is the affair about wins or losses ... there has been far enough of the latter ... but the fact that the future is so far away makes even the small positive development a mini-Vince Lombardi Trophy hoist. If it happens to throw a wrench in a divisional rival's supposedly well-oiled machine, even better.

For one precious week, the New England Patriots resembled their blessed selves from the prior decade-plus: even in a cursed season such as this, one that produced their worst six-game start since 1995, Foxborough's finest still made history, as Sunday's 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills was the 300th of head coach Bill Belichick's career.

Sunday was a glimpse into Foxborough's future: the day with news that Belichick's residency would, in fact, continue. Once kickoff commenced, the on-field representation took on a younger feel: Christian Barmore led the way for a relentless New England pass rush. Rookie Chad Ryland booted three field goals. In the most inspiring sign, Mac Jones responded to the most dire challenge of his career with a 272-yard, two-touchdown output that paced the Patriots' offense.

Douglas (81) can stand as a lasting weapon for the Patriots  / USA TODAY SPORTS

But the unexpected win over Buffalo could well go down as the Demario Douglas breakout game. 

“It’s a blessing,” Douglas said of Sunday's win, per Conor Ryan of Boston.com. “It’s a blessing to come back and play for the team. I felt like this game, we all play for each other. There was no ‘I’. We all played for each other until the end, play for 60 minutes.”

The most common complaint of the continuing post-Tom Brady is the team's apparent lack ... or, in the case of the departed Jakobi Meyers, outright ousting ... of offensive weaponry to help his successors. Granted an extended showcase for the Bills' visit, one that more or less removed veteran DeVante Parker from the receiving rotation, Douglas took full advantage and defied the uncomfortably enduring notion.

Douglas, a sixth-round rookie chosen in last spring's draft, officially touched the ball five times on Sunday and each of them made an impact. All but one of four receptions that totaled 54 yards each resulted in first downs and the outlier was a nine-yard tally on the Patriots' first play from scrimmage that helped set the pace for the upset. 

“Pop’s quick,” head coach Bill Belichick said, referring to Douglas by his nickname in a report from Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. “You know, he got some separation on a few routes, made a couple (of) tough catches. The seam pass was a good catch. He got held on the play-action over route on the first drive, I think it was. Short yardage play.”

The last regained momentum after a delay of game penalty that placed the Pats (2-5) out of the red zone but a 19-yard tally set them right back up. Jones found Kendrick Bourne for a six-pointer that gave New England a late two-possession lead before withstanding a furious Buffalo comeback.

In addition to the aerial affairs, Douglas also made Marcus Jones proud with a 25-yard punt return in the first half, one that set up the second of Ryland's three triples. 

For Douglas, Sunday's win served as redemption for Douglas after he was designated as a healthy scratch for last weekend's loss in Las Vegas. No matter what happens in the constantly evolving New England lineup, his rookie season goal remains the same week in and week out.

“I play with confidence. I don’t want that first person to tackle me," The ball is coming my way? I need to make that play. I’m trying to make it a 75-25 ball, not a 50-50.” 

Time will tell if Douglas' momentum carries on as the Patriots seek to get their season back on track. The road gets no easier as a trip to visit the AFC East leaders in Miami looms next Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).