CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook as the Patriots lead the Browns 9-7 at halftime.

1. The Browns defense did a very good job against New England, allowing only three field goals. Drake Maye was sacked four times – three by Myles Garrett. Maye also threw his third interception of the year.

2. The Browns had one of their best drives of the season on their first possession. They went 70 yards in six plays to score a TD. The final play was masterful. Coach Kevin Stefanski loaded the line of scrimmage with extra blockers. He put rookie tight end Harold Fannin in the backfield. New England assumed Fannin was there to block – or perhaps even carry the ball. Instead, Fannin casually went out for a pass. He was wide open and caught a nice throw from Dillon Gabriel for an 18-yard TD.

3. The big play on the drive was a 31-yard end-around to receiver Malachi Corley that went for 31 yards.

4. Garrett sacked New England QB Drake Maye in the first quarter. It was sack No. 108.5 of his career. He broke Reggie White’s record for the most sacks by any NFL player under the age of 30. Garrett had another sack in the second quarter.

5. Garrett recorded his third sack with 29 seconds left in the half. He knocked the ball out of Maye’s hands, but the Patriots recovered.

6. The Browns started five offensive linemen who each have more than 90 NFL starts. That’s Cam Robinson and Jack Conklin at the tackles, Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio at guards and center Ethan Pocic.

7. Carson Schwesinger made a tremendous interception. The Browns rookie dropped into zone pass coverage. Maye. As the QB threw, Schwesinger leaped, grabbed the ball and came down with it for his first NFL interception. That was only Maye’s third interception of the season.

8. The Browns took over with the ball on the New England 34-yard line. But they went 3-and-out. Then Andre Szmyt missed a 47-yard field goal. He entered the game 10 for 12 on field goals.

9. After that first drive, the Browns had little success on offense They had only two first downs in the next four possessions. After 70 yards on the first drive, the Browns had only 43 total yards after that.

9. New England entered the game allowing only 77 yards rushing per game. No back had run for more than 50 yards against them. The Browns gave it to Quinshon Judkins seven games, but had only 16 yards rushing. The Browns ran it nine times. Gabriel was 7 for 11 passing for 63 yards.

10. The last time the Browns won a road game was September 15, 2024. They beat Jacksonville 18-13 on that date. Since then, the Browns had lost 10 consecutive road games. .

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