ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte showed mental resolve Sunday with the best performance of his NFL career in a losing effort to the Bills.

Boutte, who caught five passes for 95 yards, hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Maye on the Patriots’ opening drive.

“It was man coverage all around. You just gotta win your route. I won my route,” Boutte said after the 24-21 loss the AFC East champion Bills.

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In last week’s game against the Cardinals, Boutte dropped a pass from Maye that bounced into a defender’s arms for an interception. After that loss, he openly criticized Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s play-calling.

The 2023 sixth-round pick apologized to Van Pelt on Monday morning.

“I just look at it like what happened in the past is what’s in the past,” Boutte said. “Just that’s not my focus no more. We’re not playing Arizona, we’re on to the Buffalo Bills. What happened, I put behind me.”

Boutte hauled in a 31-yard catch-and-run to end the first half. He lateraled the ball to running back Antonio Gibson at the end of the play to see if the Patriots could get into the end zone. He said that was not part of the play design and that he improvised it on the field.

Patriots coaches easily could have disciplined Boutte for last week’s drop or comments. Instead, they stood behind the young pass-catcher, and he rewarded them with a standout performance.