Patriots Pregame Thread Week 8: Browns @ Pats

[Hammer of Thor]

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS​

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
LB Elijah Ponder, Knee
S Craig Woodson, Ankle
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
LB Harold Landry III, Ankle
DT Christian Barmore, Not Injury Related / Other
WR Stefon Diggs, Chest
OT Morgan Moses, Not Injury Related / Other
DT Khyiris Tonga, Knee
FULL PARTICIPATION
CB Christian Gonzalez, Hamstring
S Jaylinn Hawkins, Hamstring
CB Charles Woods, Knee

Week 8 Injury Report: Patriots vs. Browns

Also, Jerry Jeudy didn’t participate for Cleveland with a knee injury.

 

[Zuma]

Stefon Diggs, K'Lavon Chaisson, Christian Gonzalez, and Will Campbell | Player Media Availability 10/22

Campbell "Someone sent me a T-Rex with short arms. I have it somewhere in my locker. I thought it was funny".

 

[TommyD4207]

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS​

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
LB Elijah Ponder, Knee
S Craig Woodson, Ankle
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
LB Harold Landry III, Ankle
DT Christian Barmore, Not Injury Related / Other
WR Stefon Diggs, Chest
OT Morgan Moses, Not Injury Related / Other
DT Khyiris Tonga, Knee
FULL PARTICIPATION
CB Christian Gonzalez, Hamstring
S Jaylinn Hawkins, Hamstring
CB Charles Woods, Knee

Week 8 Injury Report: Patriots vs. Browns

Also, Jerry Jeudy didn’t participate for Cleveland with a knee injury.

Do you think Diggs is playing with a cracked rib?

 

[maust]

91% completions and a bomb to Boutte isn't good enough now.

I swear, there's something in the water right now.

TBF there's always been a little somethin' somethin' in Toofy's water. I suspect Sam might be swimming in his well

 

[maust]

"The 5-2 New England Patriots..."

I like the way he talks, mmhmm

 

[TheRainMaker]

Stefon Diggs, K'Lavon Chaisson, Christian Gonzalez, and Will Campbell | Player Media Availability 10/22

Campbell "Someone sent me a T-Rex with short arms. I have it somewhere in my locker. I thought it was funny".

I heard it was someone from Patsfans.com.

 

[Brotherblues]

I was thinking the same. 12-6 or something equally ugh.

Just stack Ws.

Browns points allowed in their 3 road games:

41 at Baltimore
34 at Detroit
23 at Pittsburgh

Their impressive outings have come at the dawgpound. I don't expect us to put up an easy 40 burger but a hard fought 27+ seems reasonable.

 

[Mack Herron]

I think the lack of man coverage is due to (1) Gonzo's hammy not being 100% and (2) the deficiencies at S. I hope we will get to see more of it.

Good points. The safety position has been disappointing as we appear increasingly to be undermanned. Is Woodson improving? I don’t see it.

 

[ralmat55]

I think the lack of man coverage is due to (1) Gonzo's hammy not being 100% and (2) the deficiencies at S. I hope we will get to see more of it.

They’re playing much more base defense against 11 personnel then under the previous regimes’ defenses. You really can’t matchup man to man against 3 WRs in base very well. Few teams can.

This is a big reason this team is playing the run better than last year’s team especially. They have bigger personnel on the field on early downs and the DBs initially can have an eye in the backfield.

I don’t chart the games, and I’d like to see a breakdown of what coverage scheme is used by down. But, my observation is man is used more on 3rd down or any down when they have 5 or more DBs on the field and can adequately cover 3 or more WRs man to man.

This is a good defense, and if they stay in reasonable good health, they’ll get even better. I know the argument: they can’t keep letting teams get good starts. What are they going to do when the play better opponents?

Who’s the best offense they’ve played to date? Might it be the mighty Bills with their MVP QB? How many points did they score in the first half? I remember it was 3. Relax!

 

[PYPER]

I'm a bit worried about this game. C-land's DLine vs our Oline is the key matchup and the Browns would appear to have a decisive edge. The Pats, as currently constructed, are a bit of a finesse team that wins due its aerial attack. As the weather changes, will we be able to adapt?

Cleveland plays a physical brand of football. They have the 1st or second ranked defense in the league, a decent running game, and a rookie QB who's a big question mark. If Gabriel plays well, we lose this game. We need our defense to step up this week and not let the kid find his rhythm. On offense we must continue protecting the football. We must win the turnover battle.

On a positive note, the browns have been a disaster when traveling this year. They've lost their three road games by 24, 24, and 14 points. Thats the Browns team I'm hoping to see but I'm expecting this to be a battle.

Trade Deadline: I keep hearing rumors about WR's everyone wants us to add but thats the wrong direction. The weakness of this team is still the OLine. We need a solid OG who is particularly good in the running game. Wilson isn't getting it done. He's better suited to become the swing guy on the interior of the oline. I think we're probably better off starting Ben Brown moving forward.

So the question is, are there any decent OG talents in the last year of their contracts who might be available in a trade? So pissed we missed out on bringing Thuney back. He's the missing piece.

A RB could also be useful but I don't like the idea of trading assets for RB's. I believe RB's are a dime a dozen. There are literally hundreds of backs who are not even in the NFL who could do well with an opportunity as long as the OLine can create lanes for them to run through. We need to start trying out street free agents and learning whats out there.

 

[Triumph]

Stefon Diggs, K'Lavon Chaisson, Christian Gonzalez, and Will Campbell | Player Media Availability 10/22

Campbell "Someone sent me a T-Rex with short arms. I have it somewhere in my locker. I thought it was funny".

They wanted Campbell to sign iT Rex and mail it back.

Campbell kept it.

 

[Tunescribe]

The Browns have nothing o lose with 5 losses.

Astounding insight. Just an incredible grasp of football acumen.

 

[Zoomnbyu]

Do you think Diggs is playing with a cracked rib?

Cracked a couple ribs a few weeks ago in a driveway fall. Can't imagine playing like that.

 

[Tunescribe]

Do you think Diggs is playing with a cracked rib?

It could be a bruised sternum.

 

[TommyD4207]

It could be a bruised sternum.

It could be, but this is multiple weeks now.

 

[Tunescribe]

It could be, but this is multiple weeks now.

I had this years ago and it took the better part of a year to heal (where chest ribs connect to cartilage). It's very painful.

Costochondritis - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[patfanken]

Our defense is more of a concern than the offense.Somethhing i didnt think would be the case this yr. They have started slow and held in the RZ otherwise they have let the opposing team score in the 5 of last 6 opening drives or something . Been bailed out by maye but against good teams if they fall behind too far its going to be tough.

I don't think the issue is at CB - Davis, Gonzo, MJones (seems weird to have only one Jones in the secondary, right) and Austin are a pretty good first 4, but it wouldn't hurt to add another quality guy. Safety is the real problem. Right now, it looks like we only have 2 available, Woodson and Dugger. Then you essentially have career STers in Pettus and Schooler and the injured Hawkins whom everyone seems to hate. (not me).

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I heard it was someone from Patsfans.com.

It was me

 

[patfanken]

Good eye on seeing cover 3 being a highly used coverage.

After I made the post I went and searched for actual data and found this. Not sure how accurate this is



It will be interesting to see how often they have to molt into cover 2 to protect against the Pats deeper passing attack.

Lazar makes a great point in noting the Pats might do more rolling out looks because the Browns aren't AS good at defending it, AND they can protect Drake better. We shall see.