Bills Cornerback Dismisses Patriots Receiver's Touchdown as Fleeting

Buffalo Bills cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson expressed little concern regarding Efton Chism III's one-handed touchdown reception that briefly put the New England Patriots ahead. The Bills ultimately lost to the Patriots 29-26, marking Buffalo's first defeat of the season.

Chism’s 19-yard touchdown catch, made with one hand while tightly covered in the end zone, proved to be a significant play in the game. However, Gardner-Johnson was dismissive of the reception's long-term significance.

"Probably won’t hear from him again, respectfully," Gardner-Johnson stated after the game. He added that he considers Chism an "elevated guy," implying he believed Chism was called up from the practice squad, despite Chism being on the Patriots' active roster.

Despite the loss, Gardner-Johnson maintained the team's overall performance was not surpassed, stating, "They didn’t do s—t better than us. We gotta play better."

Chism, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the Bills cornerback's comments. He described a "flow state" during the play where he "black[ed] out" and focused on capitalizing on the opportunity presented by quarterback Drake Maye. Chism finished the game with two catches for 19 yards and one touchdown.

Maye completed 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns, though he also threw an interception. Romeo Doubs recorded two touchdown receptions for the Patriots. The loss dropped the Bills to 3-1 on the season, while the Patriots improved to 2-2.