NEW ORLEANS – When a wide receiver Stefon Diggs snuck into the locker room after New England Patriots' victory with a score of 25-19 against New Orleans Saintshe clapped his hands and celebrated the team's performance by saying, “That's three in a row!”
Then, before boarding the team bus, Diggs was one of the last remaining players in the locker room and was already looking forward to Sunday's road game against the team. Tennessee Titans.
“We'll enjoy it for 12 hours and then we'll have a big event next week,” Diggs said.
Why so big?
“I think people are going home,” he said with a hint of humor.
Diggs' reference to coach Mike Vrabel, who brought the Patriots (4-2) to Tennessee, where he served as head coach from 2018 to 2023, underscores what will be a major storyline in the coming days.
“That’s three games in a row,” Stefon Diggs says as he walks back into the locker room and claps his hands. pic.twitter.com/shbJj0dW2S
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 12, 2025
The theme of “homecoming” has been prevalent among the surging Patriots in recent weeks as this marks the team's first win in three straight games since 2022.
In the fifth week, victory over Buffalo BillsIt was Diggs' return to Western New York – and his stellar performance. primetime upset – it caused headlines.
And in Sunday's road win over the Saints, the winner was a Louisiana native and former Louisiana State wide receiver. Kayshawn Boutte came up with a strong performance that included a team-best five catches for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns (deep kicks of 25 and 29 yards). Boutte became the first Patriots player to throw multiple touchdowns of 25 yards or more in a game since. Philip Dorsett II in 2019.
“As far as going home, I think the guys feel comfortable going back to the crib,” Diggs said.
The Patriots won despite a performance that had “a lot to improve,” Vrabel said. A lack of running game (73 yards on 31 attempts), 11 penalties and shaky pass defense at times were among the main issues. But when they needed a game to finish things off, Boutte delivered.
He finished his day with a 21-yard catch from the quarterback. Drake Maye on third-and-11 before the two-minute warning, which allowed the Patriots to kneel over the ball for the win. It was a contested catch on the outside that he turned into a fade. Saints full back Kool-Aid McKinstry was glued to his hip, and Boutte spun to take an over-the-shoulder throw down the left sideline and landed in the field with a thud.
“What a game by Boutte,” said May, who finished 18 of 26 for 261 yards with three touchdowns and a 92.6 QBR. “It was right for him to come home.”
The 5-foot-11, 197-pound Boutte joins the starting left tackle and fellow Louisiana native. Will Campbell Back home, the game was attended by 40 family members and friends for whom he purchased tickets. He called it an “emotional day” and a “full circle moment,” noting the twists and turns of his career from once a highly touted prospect to a sixth-round pick whose NFL career was at a crossroads last spring before taking off under Vrabel and wide receivers coach Todd Downing.
“Three or four years ago I wasn't in a good place. I think about things off the field a lot. I look at myself like I've been through a lot. I feel like I finally got my act together again and everything is going well. I feel like it's good to overcome adversity and keep working,” Boutte said.
The work continues in Week 7 with a trip to Tennessee to face the Titans (1-5), with a focus on Vrabel and his team, which is 3-0 on the road this season.
“We know Vrabes was there and everything, but he's here now,” Patriots cornerback. Marcus Jones said. “So we will try to take advantage of the opportunity we have and try to make it 1-0 next week.”
