Maye leads way as Patriots cruise past Browns, 32-13, for fifth straight win

FOXBORO — The Patriots passed a major test while extending their winning streak to five games.
They proved that one of the NFL’s best defenses is no match for their offensive firepower.
The now 6-2 Patriots started slow, laboriously taking a 9-7 lead into halftime against the Browns. Then came the offensive explosion in the second half with quarterback Drake Maye leading the way — with some major help from the defense — to a 32-13 win.
“I’m mostly proud of the totality of the team,” head coach Mike Vrabel said after the game. “I know there’s so much more to improve, but we got stops in the second half, and we scored touchdowns.”
The Patriots moved the ball effectively on the ground in their first drive but stalled when they got inside the 5-yard line, losing yards on a Rhamondre Stevenson run and when Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett beat tight end Hunter Henry and rookie tackle Will Campbell for a 10-yard sack of quarterback Drake Maye. The Patriots settled for a 36-yard field goal from rookie kicker Andy Borregales to go ahead 3-0.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said before the game that he had senior defensive assistant Ben McAdoo, a former offensive coordinator and head coach, put together an opening script to test the Patriots defense to get them to start faster. It didn’t work. The Patriots quickly allowed the Browns to take a 7-3 lead on a six-play, 70-yard drive that ended with rookie QB Dillon Gabriel finding rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. wide open coming out of the backfield for an 18-yard touchdown.
The Patriots’ defense forced a quick punt, allowing just one first down, on the Browns’ next drive. Their ensuing offensive series was short-lived. Maye threw his first interception since Week 3 on a target to wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Maye didn’t see rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger and threw directly at him.
As far as turnovers go, that one was pretty inconsequential. The Browns managed just 5 yards, then kicker Andre Szmyt missed a 49-yard field goal.
Maye led the Patriots down the field on long completions to tight end Austin Hooper and wide receiver Mack Hollins before the offense stalled and settled for a field goal to cut the Browns’ lead to 7-6.
After exchanging three punts, the Patriots got the ball for a two-minute drill at the end of the half. They had to settle for a field goal and a 9-7 lead after a false start on tight end Hunter Henry and Myles Garrett’s third sack of the game eliminated any chances of getting into the end zone.
“We didn’t convert, but we were able to move the ball down there into field goal range, and Andy and that operation was able to take advantage of it and go into halftime with the lead,” Vrabel said.
The Patriots’ defense started the second half strong, forcing a three-and-out. The offense matched that energy with a seven-play, 77-yard drive that culminated with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Maye to Henry.
They extended their lead to 23-7 after linebacker Robert Spillane picked off Gabriel to put the offense in the red zone. Maye hit Stefon Diggs for the Pro Bowl receiver’s first touchdown in a Patriots uniform from 1 yard out.
The Patriots’ defense allowed a first down for the first time since the second quarter, but on the next play, Gabriel threw a heave downfield that safety Jaylinn Hawkins picked off, diving, with one hand.
Maye made the Browns pay on a five-play, 81-yard drive. On the last two plays, he ran for 28 yards then hit wide receiver Kayshon Boutte on a 39-yard deep touchdown to put the Patriots ahead 30-7.
The game went into garbage time early. The Browns scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel to tight end David Njoku over rookie safety Craig Woodson with 9:24 left in the fourth quarter. The Browns got into the red zone quickly after Bryce Baringer muffed a 15-yard punt. The score and failed two-point attempt made the score 30-13 Patriots. The Patriots then recovered the Browns’ onside kick attempt.
The Patriots got inside the red zone before Henderson fumbled at the goal line. Gabriel was penalized for intentional grounding inside his own end zone, giving the Patriots a safety and 32-13 lead. The Browns then kicked onside after the safety and recovered.
Best
CB Marcus Jones: Jones was all over the field on Sunday with two pass breakups and a tackle for loss in the first half. The captain has been one of the Patriots’ best defenders this season.
RB TreVeyon Henderson: Let’s give it up for the rookie running back, who showed off his explosive ability for the first time all season with a 10-carry, 77-yard performance. It wasn’t perfect. Henderson lost a fumble at the goal line, but he played better than he had performed all season.
S Jaylinn Hawkins: You make a one-handed interception, you wind up on the best list.
LB Robert Spillane: Spillane also picked off Gabriel while added a team-leading nine tackles and two tackles for loss.
QB Drake Maye: Yes, he threw an interception — his first since Week 3 — but he also went 18-of-24 for 282 yards with three touchdown passes and picked up an additional 53 yards on four rushing attempts.
Worst
Special teams: The Patriots were charged with three penalties on special teams. Brenden Schooler was flagged for a hold, Marte Mapu was penalized for an illegal formation and Richie Grant was called for holding. The Browns also recovered an onside kick after a safety.
P Bryce Baringer: A 15-yard punt and a touchback put Baringer on the worst list.
Pass protection: Maye was sacked six times, and yes, Garrett is a beast, but most teams limit him to less than five sacks per game. PFF charged LT Will Campbell with two sacks and tight end Hunter Henry and LG Jared Wilson with one apiece during in-game charting.
What we learned
• Henderson was a much bigger part of the offensive game plan compared to last week. He rewarded offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with two runs for 30 yards on the Patriots’ opening drive while leading the team in rushing.
• The Patriots dared Gabriel to beat them on the first play of the game, going extremely heavy with just three defensive backs on the field. Here was the starting defense: OLB Harold Landry III, DT Milton Williams, DT Joshua Farmer, DT Khyiris Tonga, OLB/DE K’Lavon Chaisson, LB Robert Spillane, LB Christian Elliss, LB Jack Gibbens, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Carlton Davis III and S Jaylinn Hawkins.
• The Patriots showed a complete lack of respect for Gabriel and the Browns’ passing game overall. They sold out to sell the run until it was third-and-long and were exceptional at limiting rookie running back Quinshon Judkins.
• Defensive tackle Christian Barmore was a notable absence from the starting defense. He didn’t take the field in the first quarter but was on the field for the Browns’ third drive, which began in the second quarter.
• With Efton Chism inactive, Henderson took over kick return duties.
• Cornerback Christian Gonzalez looked like himself with multiple forced incompletions.