The Patriots won their fifth straight game on Sunday with a 32-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
New England moved to 6-2 and sits atop the AFC East standings.
Drake Maye turned in another strong performance that had the Gillette Stadium crowd chanting, “MVP!,” and the quarterback helped begin the second half with three straight touchdowns.
Here’s what’s being said about another New England win.
“Maye was under siege in the first half against Myles Garrett and a relentless Browns defense, which led to Maye’s first interception since Week 3. But he didn’t back down and then took over the game after halftime with a mix of what has made him so potent this season: running, keeping plays alive in the pocket and focusing his eyes downfield to connect on passing plays. Despite being sacked six times, Maye finished with 171 passing yards on throws of 15-plus air yards, along with three touchdowns and 50 rushing yards on seven carries.”
“Look out Bills—the Patriots are for real
“Yes, Sunday’s blowout win over Cleveland comes with the caveat that the Browns are a tomato can. But legit contenders are supposed to handle lesser teams with ease—and that’s exactly what the Patriots did.
“Quarterback Drake Maye continued his stellar second season, completing three-quarters of his passes, throwing three more touchdown passes and posting a passer rating of 135.8. The New England defense held the Browns to just 213 total yards and 12 first downs while forcing a pair of turnovers.
“For years, the AFC East has been the Buffalo Bills and then everyone else.
“That is no longer the case.”
“This was the type of game that should make the Patriots feel even better about Drake Maye. He got sacked six times and was under constant pressure, but he still managed to carve up the top defense in the NFL for 282 yards and three touchdowns. This game was close at halftime, but the defense helped put it away with a second-half performance that included two interceptions, a safety and two fourth-down stops.
“A pick by Robert Spillane in the third quarter set New England up with first-and-goal at the Browns’ 6-yard line on a drive that ended with a TD. The Patriots didn’t play a perfect game, but they still managed to win by double digits and that’s when you know you’re a good team. This is a good team.”
“New England encountered a stingy Browns defense and learned how difficult it is to score on it in the first half Sunday, settling for three field goals to take a narrow 9-7 lead into half. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels pulled out his easel and palette after halftime. He directed a well-balanced drive out of the break that relied on perimeter runs and well-timed play-action passes, slicing through Cleveland’s resistance on a seven-play, 77-yard touchdown drive capped perfectly by a rollout touchdown pass to Hunter Henry .
“From there, the Patriots were off and running, capitalizing on a turnover with a short touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs before fully unleashing Drake Maye , who renewed his connection with Kayshon Boutte on a 39-yard dime for a touchdown. It took 30 minutes to work out the kinks but McDaniels’ vast experience shined once again, propelling another excellent day for Maye and Co.”
“Drake Maye is creeping into the MVP conversation. That he was able to throw for 282 yards, three touchdowns and a 135.8 passer rating on a day during which Myles Garrett sacked him five times is pretty incredible. Patrick Mahomes would be my MVP right now. But Maye’s in the mix after that, with guys such as Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff.”
“However (Josh) Allen could be passing league MVP honors and Buffalo could be passing the AFC East throne to Drake Maye and the first-place New England Patriots, respectively. Maye had another big day as the Pats won 32-13, extending his somewhat arbitrary accomplishment by becoming the fifth quarterback in NFL history to post at least seven straight games with at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of at least 100.0.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.