Patriots Look to Secure Their Fifth Consecutive Win Against the Browns
Who would have thought that after six Super Bowl championships led by Tom Brady, the New England Patriots would find a way to turn the tide of their fortune under Drake Maye in just two seasons? Last season, this team finished the regular season with four wins, and now the Patriots lead the AFC East at 5-2 and are looking to secure their fifth win in a row at home in Foxborough against the Cleveland Browns. A fifth consecutive win would not only continue New England’s first-place momentum but also get this team one step closer to the NFL Playoffs, a place the Patriots have not seen since 2021. For the Browns, a win during this Week Eight matchup would give Cleveland back-to-back wins and would make the AFC North Division a little more competitive between the Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals. Both these franchises have something to prove heading into Week Eight, and they’ll look to showcase their desperation to win this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.
Seven weeks into the season, Maye has looked like a more mobile Tom Brady. The former North Carolina quarterback’s ability to step out of the pocket and rush the ball has been huge for the Patriots, especially in those big-play moments. Maye has found his stride with his running backs, receivers, and tight ends, as each of his targets has the poise to put in the work each week. Rhamondre Stevenson has the ability to impact the Patriots’ run game in a huge way when he can get going. Then, when New England’s 23-year-old quarterback throws the ball to guys like Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, and DeMario Douglas, you can tell the chemistry between these guys is clearly there. The Patriots’ defense must stop Kevin Stefanski’s game plan for Brown’s quarterback, Dillon Gabriel. While Gabriel missed just five of his 18 pass attempts during Cleveland’s 31-6 win over the Miami Dolphins last week, the Browns might hand the ball to running back Quinshon Judkins, who had 84 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries last week. If the Patriots want to win their fifth consecutive game in Foxborough this Sunday, they should stop the run game and stop big pass plays to the 2024 Pro Bowl receiver, Jerry Jeudy.
The Patriots are 4-0 on the road and 1-2 at home this season. Maye must get comfortable playing at home in front of the New England fans. Six of the next 10 games this New England team plays will be in Foxborough. It’s absolutely a must for the Patriots to continue getting comfortable in their home environment and pulling out big plays and huge wins in front of the home fans. A fifth straight win would send the Patriots on the biggest momentum boost of the season, heading into their Week Nine matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Could New England’s confidence be at an all-time high under head coach Mike Vrabel, or will the Patriots suffer a stunner of a loss at home against a Cleveland Browns team that’s looking to rebuild their identity after several questionable decisions this season?
