{"id":63197,"date":"2025-10-27T08:52:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T12:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=63197"},"modified":"2025-10-27T08:55:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T12:55:06","slug":"patriots-overcome-slow-start-blast-browns-32-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2025\/10\/27\/patriots-overcome-slow-start-blast-browns-32-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Overcome Slow Start Blast Browns 32-13"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriots suffered yet another slow start before catching fire in a pivotal third quarter and blowing out the Cleveland Browns 32-13 today at Gillette Stadium.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots nursed a 9-7 lead at the half before outscoring the Browns 21-0 in the third quarter. Drake Maye threw three TD passes and ran for 50 yards as the team dominated the final 30 minutes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is the giving of respect, and then there is going overboard. And as this week dragged on, too many people began talking about the Browns defense in terms that you would have thought that they were the \u201885 freakin\u2019 Bears. And they are not. Are they good? Yes, and Myles Garrett (five sacks) is a beast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But in the end his sacks only sugar-coated what was a beatdown for the Browns who have now lost 12 in a row on the road (something else that was overlooked).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some observations include:<\/span><\/p>\n

Maye Has Another Stellar Day:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Drake Maye\u00a0 had a slow start with only three field goals in the first half after going 0-2 in the red zone. He also threw his first interception since the Steelers game, where he didn\u2019t see Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger and was picked off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maye didn\u2019t complete 91 percent of his throws today, but did complete 75 percent, 18 of 24 for 282 yards with three TDs and one INT for a passer rating of 135.7. This was against the #1 pass defense in the league. He added 50 yards on seven runs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maye threw two touchdowns on the first two drives of the third quarter, to Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry. On the third drive, he took off running, and gained 28 yards on a scramble. On the next play, he went deep down the left sideline and lofted a perfect pass in the bucket to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte for <\/span>a 39-yard touchdown.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked into the boundary, and Kayshon liked it on that side. We worked on that side during the week. So we just kept it to that side,\u201d Maye said. \u201cHe made a great, great move on them and just trying to give him a chance. Thought I overthrew it again, but he made a nice adjustment to it and a great catch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Maye now has the most games with 200+ passing yards, <\/span>a 135+ passer rating <\/span><\/a>and 2+ passing touchdowns in a single season in team history with five, passing Tom Brady (2007).<\/span><\/p>\n

He is now tied for the second-most in a single season in NFL history. He has been outstanding, and is now moving into uncharted waters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mack Hollins Has A Big Day:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Mack Hollins led all pass receivers on Sunday with 89 yards on seven catches\u00a0 and being targeted seven times. He and Maye connected a beauty <\/span>of a hole shot <\/span><\/a>for 21 yards.<\/span><\/p>\n

They also connected on a nice <\/span>19-yard catch and run<\/span><\/a> for a first down. Hollins, as he is known for doing, showed up barefoot dressed as a chess piece this morning. He also had a 19-yard catch on a trick play with Maye and Rhamondre Stevenson.<\/span><\/p>\n

Defense Sluggish At The Start, Slams Shut on Judkins\/Gabriel:<\/b><\/h3>\n

The defense got off to another horrendously slow start with blown assignments and mix ups in coverage. Facing a 3rd and 11 on their first series, Dillon Gabriel hit Harold Fannin Jr. for 19 yards, two plays later they allowed a 31-yard run by WR Malachai Corley, and then a blown coverage where Fannin was left wide open for an 18-yard touchdown.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a couple of pregame pieces this week, we mentioned the start that rookie RB Quinshon Judkins was off to a very good start of his career, gaining 420 yards after contact entering today\u2019s game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots made him their focus and they bottled him up from the start to the finish. Judkins carried nine times for 19 yards (2.1-yard average) with a long of just six yards. He caught three passes for -2 yards. Mission accomplished. Jerry Jeudy was held without a catch.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots didn\u2019t fear Gabriel and after the first series, they were proven right. He completed 21 of 35 passes for just 156 yards or 119 after that first drive. He threw two touchdowns, the pass to Fannin, and a touchdown to David Njoku after the game was well out of reach in the fourth quarter. He also threw two interceptions on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Browns gained just 68 yards on the ground on 16 carries. But\u2026again, after the 31-yard run allowed on the first series, the Browns gained just 33 yards rushing after that. The defense allowed just 214 yards total on the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

TreVeyon Henderson Has a Big Day Dashed At the End:<\/b><\/h3>\n

The \u201cother\u2019 rookie Ohio State running back in the game today, TreVeyon Henderson has not seen a lot of plays with his name called, until today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On this day, he rushed for 75 yards on 10 carries (7.5-yard average), with a long of 28 yards. He was showing the burst that we have been looking for, and was having an outstanding day until disaster struck on the Browns one-yard line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Henderson burst up the middle for a big gain\u00a0 and appeared that he was going to punch the ball in for another Patriots\u2019 touchdown. But he had the ball punched out at the one and Cleveland took over, casting a pall on a stellar outing for the rookie.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, two plays later the Patriots got a safety, ending the day\u2019s scoring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Facing a stout Browns run defense, I wrote that we didn\u2019t expect the Patriots to equal the 175 yards rushing they garnered against the Titans. They rushed for 177 as a team. This is the kind of balance that wins football games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pass Protection and STs Have Rough Outings:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Drake Maye was sacked six times, five by Myles Garrett, who had six QB hits. The Patriots did not have an answer for him. He\u2019s arguably the best defensive player in the league.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Maye\u2019s pocket movement and scrambling really rendered the OL\u2019s issues moot. That is not to excuse the pressure on him, which was shared across the board. The OL\u2019s pass protection has to be better\u2026period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other than Andy Borregales, whose three first half field goals put them in front at the half, the STs didn\u2019t have a good game. Three penalties and a shanked 15-yard punt by Bryce Barringer when the Patriots were already backed up led to Cleveland\u2019s final although garbage time touchdown. And worst of all, they allowed Cleveland to recover an on-sides kick. Not a good day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other observations include:<\/span><\/p>\n