Stefon Diggs’ Uncertainty Adds Real Risk to Patriots’ Playoff Run

The Patriots didn’t expect to be playing without Stefon Diggs in January. They had just won the division. Drake Maye had become the NFL MVP front-runner. The season felt like it was lining up the right way. Now, as the playoffs approach, everything feels less certain, mostly because of what’s hanging over Stefon Diggs. Diggs’ legal situation couldn’t come at a worse time.

Diggs has denied the allegations, but the case will move forward. That part is out of football’s hands. The NFL, though, doesn’t always wait. The commissioner’s exempt list is a real possibility, and the Patriots know from experience how quickly that kind of decision can happen. Even preparing for it is a distraction, and January doesn’t allow much room for that.

Without Diggs, the Patriots Lack Depth

If Diggs isn’t available in the postseason, the loss isn’t just about production. He’s the receiver that defenses worry about first. He changes the coverage’s look. He draws attention on third down. He’s the option Maye looks for when nothing else develops. Take him out, and the offense becomes simpler to defend, even if it doesn’t completely collapse.

That’s where the lack of depth starts to show. Mack Hollins won’t be back until at least the AFC Championship Game, assuming the Patriots get that far. After that, the receiver corps is limited in experience. Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism have all contributed at different points. None of them has been asked to shoulder playoff-level pressure. That’s not a knock. It’s just reality.

So the burden shifts elsewhere. Josh McDaniels will have to decide how much he wants to adjust and how much he wants to trust what’s worked. More two-tight-end looks are unavoidable. Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper would be targeted heavily. Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson would become focal points, not secondary options. The Patriots can try to slow things down and control the game that way. That can work. It just doesn’t work forever.

The Patriots Will Face Different Defensive Formations Without Diggs

Playoff defenses are built to take something away. They adjust quickly. They sell out to stop the run, crowd short routes, and dare young receivers to win outside. That’s when Diggs’ absence becomes obvious. He’s the player who makes that approach dangerous. Without him, defenses can be far more aggressive and live with the consequences.

For Maye, this would be unfamiliar territory. He’s handled everything thrown at him so far, and he hasn’t looked rattled. Still, January football is different. Asking a second-year quarterback to navigate playoff defenses without his top target is asking a lot.

Even the best young quarterbacks need help when the playoffs arrive, and mistakes matter more. The Patriots do have options. They’re just not great ones. They might get through a game like this. However, the AFC Championship and Super Bowl are quite different than the divisional round. 

Football Is Secondary In This, But A Dark Cloud Hangs Over The Pats

There are bigger issues than football here, and they deserve to come first. But strictly from a competitive standpoint, Diggs’ situation hangs over this postseason. If he’s available, the Patriots can match up with anyone. If he’s not, then options become fewer, and the margin for error almost disappears.