FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Efton Chism III was the last New England Patriots player off the field after the team’s shocking win in Buffalo, the consequence of nabbing the game-winning touchdown with one hand and drawing added interest from lurking TV cameras.

When he finally jogged off, coach Mike Vrabel was waiting for the former Monroe High School star outside the locker room door.

Chism told Vrabel that he appreciated the coach who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2025, kept him around all last season even while Chism was frequently a healthy scratch and then trusted him in the biggest moments against the Bills. They exchanged a big hug.

“I’m so f—ing happy for you,” Vrabel told Chism.

Thanks to his incredible one-handed grab, Chism is no longer the Patriots’ unknown secret. The NFL’s main X account changed its background to a picture of Chism’s catch (one he said his girlfriend proudly showed him). Teammates like Romeo Doubs called it the “snag of the year.” The moment led Sunday’s highlight shows.

The catch gained even more attention when Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (incorrectly) called Chism a “practice-squad player.” But Chism opted against exchanging barbs Wednesday, taking the high road when asked about Gardner-Johnson’s comments.

“He’s a great player, they’re a great team, I’ve got a bunch of respect for him,” Chism said. “But we’re excited for this week and looking forward to the Raiders.”

Maybe the most impressive part of the touchdown that vaulted Chism into the national discussion is that he was never supposed to be there in the first place.

The Patriots practiced that specific play a few times before the game in Buffalo. They thought they might need it in that situation. But every time they ran it, Chism was on the sideline. He never once ran the route that seems to have changed the trajectory of this Patriots season.

“We ain’t practicing some of these plays with (these) guys in there, so it’s cool how this game brings people together,” quarterback Drake Maye said.

That Chism’s breakout moment came on a play he had never practiced fits perfectly with his path to this point.

Maye and Vrabel have joked that when they’re still at the team’s facility long after most have left, they’ll bump into Chism.

“Nobody’s going to work harder than Chism,” Vrabel said. “I mean, Chism is literally in (wide receivers coach) Todd Downing’s office before 6 o’clock every morning, if not 5:30, getting the game plan down to know every position. He’s an extremely hard worker with his toughness, his routine. It’s really cool to see guys like that take advantage of their opportunities. Obviously, stepping up in a critical situation is what this league is about.”

Now, of course, the task is ensuring this isn’t a one-hit wonder for Chism. And more chances await.

Pro Bowler A.J. Brown is still out with a high ankle sprain. Mack Hollins didn’t practice Wednesday due to a calf injury. Without them, the Patriots have only four wide receivers on the active roster: Doubs, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas and Chism.

Considering that, Chism could see the most playing time of his career against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

“Guys continue to take advantage of their opportunities; they get more opportunities,” Vrabel said. “We’ve been finding ways to work Chism in there previously. And it’s a balance, but he certainly did a lot of things well. I know that he’ll continue to do things well for us and continue to know a bunch of different spots.”

Even after a remarkable career at Eastern Washington (including an FCS-record 53 straight games with a catch), a 4.71-second 40-yard dash before the draft ended his chances of getting picked. But the Patriots gave Chism $252,500 in guaranteed money, the second-highest figure they’d ever given an undrafted player, to lure him to New England.

He impressed during training camp, but in the regular season, the Patriots relegated him to the bottom of the depth chart. He finished his rookie year with just three catches (though those went for 75 yards and a touchdown).

This season, Chism looked to be buried in the receiver hierarchy again.

Chism is from Kirkland, Wash. For the Patriots’ season opener in Seattle against the Seahawks, Chism had a slew of family and friends come to the game. He chatted with them on the sideline beforehand. And then he was made a healthy scratch.

“When you get to that moment, and sometimes you don’t get to play, it sucks,” Chism said. “But you just have to continue to stay patient and don’t live in tomorrow or yesterday.”

It’s easy to say you’ll keep working hard through tough stretches. But moments like those can test a player. How motivated are you to show up at 5:30 a.m. to go over the game plan with your coach when you don’t get to dress for the game?

But it didn’t stop Chism.

“He just keeps on doing the right thing and stays after every day in practice,” Maye said. “There are guys late in the building that I see late at night, and it’s Chism. He loves this game, and you get what you put into it, and I think you saw that with him.”

Given a chance on a play he had never practiced in Buffalo, Chism made one of the catches of the year.

Now, his next challenge awaits: taking on a bigger role in this offense while some of the team’s top receivers nurse injuries.

It can seem like a big ask considering Chism still has just seven catches in 11 NFL games. But reeling in a 23-yard touchdown with one hand to win a game against the Bills was a big ask, too.

“Not a lot of people probably thought I would be here,” Chism said. “And now I’m here.”