The Patriots rescued their season on Sunday, knocking off the previously unbeaten Bills on the road and ensuring the AFC East won’t get away from them in the early weeks of the season.
The win might not have been possible without the unlikely heroics of Efton Chism III, whose highlight-reel touchdown catch gave New England a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS. What a catch by Efton Chism III to take the lead! @NEvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+ Stream on @NFLPlus https://t.co/DtIZoenYNL
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026
After the game, one Bills defender quickly dismissed Chism with a message that can only be considered disrespectful.
Here’s a look at what C.J. Gardner-Johnson had to say about Chism.
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C.J. Gardner-Johnson calls out Efton Chism III
Gardner-Johnson called Chism a “practice squad player” after the Bills’ loss on Sunday, telling reporters, “Probably won’t hear from him again.”
CJ Gardner-Johnson on why #Bills lost: “Practice squad player made a helluva play… They didn’t do %$&# better than us. We gotta play better.” https://t.co/NJmINX4Djl
— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) October 4, 2026
While the veteran safety gave credit to Chism for the catch, calling it a “hell of a play,” he said Chism “probably won’t do it again” if the scenario played out a second time and called out the Patriots for not throwing to Romeo Doubs.
“He didn’t put his confidence in his best player,” Gardner-Johnson said, singling out Doubs as the Patriots’ top receiver with A.J. Brown injured. It’s unclear whether the safety was referring to Maye, play-caller Josh McDaniels or head coach Mike Vrabel.
“But they won the game, whatever. They ain’t do s— better than us. We gotta play better. And they can mark that. We’ll be back, see them again at the end of the year. So, they better have that same energy,” Gardner Johnson said.
Chism has never been on a practice squad, but the catch was the highlight of his young career. The former undrafted free agent had 75 yards on three catches as a rookie and entered Sunday with -1 yard through three games this season.
With Brown out for at least one more game, Chism appears to have earned Maye’s trust — even if Gardner-Johnson is struggling to come to terms with it.
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