Pats Pulpit
Four in a row became five in a row on Sunday.
The New England Patriots defeated the Cleveland Browns by a score of 32-13 at Gillette Stadium, where relentless pass rush and an early interception were outlasted.
Here’s glance back on the 1 p.m. ET kickoff as head coach Mike Vrabel’s side nears November with a 6-2 record.
One of the NFL’s top passing games crossed paths with another. Just on different sides of the football. The Browns headed to Foxborough allowing a 58.8 percent completion rate, 5.1 yards per attempt and 173.7 yards per game to opposing offenses.
It would be up to Drake Maye to test the averages. A week removed from setting a franchise record, the Patriots quarterback went 18-of-24 for 282 yards on Sunday. He threw three touchdowns and one interception.
Breaking the huddle in “12” personnel, the opening drive spanned 12 plays. It ended down at the goal line with a sack and a field goal. Next time out, there would be a three-and-out on as many handoffs. And on third down in the second quarter, spying rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger hid in plain sight as Maye was picked off for the first time in over a month.
But a 31-yard connection down the seam to former Browns tight end Austin Hooper set up a field goal. A 44-yarder to DeMario Douglas and a 21-yarder to fellow wide receiver Kayshon Boutte made a 7-6 deficit a 9-7 lead at halftime.
Coming out of it, Maye hit Hunter Henry for the tight end’s fourth touchdown catch of the fall. There’d be more scoring strikes to come. The 23-year-old captain under center added 50 yards as a rusher, led by a pickup of 28.
Five wide receivers were in uniform for New England on Sunday. Stefon Diggs was certainly one of them.
In a stacked formation alongside fellow starter Mack Hollins, who posted a team-high 89 yards, the depth chart’s eldest statesman scored his first touchdown as a Patriot. It arrived on third-and-goal in the third quarter. And on his 42nd catch of the campaign. A 23-7 game was the result.
Diggs finished with 14 yards across a trio of catches versus Cleveland. He wouldn’t be the only wideout to find the end zone by afternoon’s end. Boutte, a game captain, quickly beat backup cornerback Dom Jones’ coverage along the left sideline. Over the shoulders from 39 yards away, New England’s lead extended to 30-7. The LSU product has now scored seven of his eight career touchdowns since late last December.
Rushing efficiency had been found one Sunday ago. Against a Cleveland defense conceding 3.3 yards per carry and a chain-moving rate of 16.4 percent, it’d be a little harder to find.
Rhamondre Stevenson finished with 34 rushing yards over the course of 14 tries. The starting running back was halted...
