Through the first two months of the season, New England’s offense ranked in the bottom ten of virtually every rushing metric. Their overhauled line looked disjointed, Rhamondre Stevenson’s fumbling woes resurfaced, and TreVeyon Henderson was still adjusting to NFL speed. Making matters worse, Antonio Gibson suffered a torn ACL in Week 5 after looking like the backfield’s best player.

Henderson’s mid-season ascent brought a much-needed spark to the backfield—and led to a November Rookie of the Month nod—but boom-or-bust blocking and a toe injury to Stevenson kept the run game from being a consistent threat.

Players and coaches often referenced “time on task” when asked about these struggles, which proved to be an accurate assessment before the bye week.

The Patriots haven’t run often since Week 13, and negative plays remain a concern, but their rushing offense has been incredibly efficient over that span.

Henderson’s ascent has been crucial to this turnaround, and he’s produced like one of the league’s best backs since Week 8.

That said, the offensive line has shown noticeable improvement, especially on the right side, and Stevenson has looked as physical as ever since returning from injury. 

Now, with Mack Hollins on injured reserve, Kayshon Boutte likely out with a concussion, and a playoff push on the horizon, there’s no better time for New England to lean on the run and take some pressure off their sophomore quarterback.

For a better idea of what’s fueled the ground game’s comeback, let’s dive into some of the offense’s top concepts over the last three weeks. 

DUO

Duo is a downhill concept that creates vertical push by maximizing double teams at the point of attack. 

This McDaniels staple is typically run from under-center with fullback Jack Westover or a third wide receiver on the field. Depth linemen Thayer Munford and Ben Brown have also served as sixth offensive linemen to provide additional push.

Backs looked like they were running into a brick wall on duo for most of this season, but it’s been successful on at least half of the Patriots’ attempts in each of the past three games. The offense hadn’t hit that mark since Week 8 against the Browns.

Duo isn’t known for generating explosives, but repeated blows have led to some big plays late in games. Take this 21-yard touchdown run from last week in Baltimore.

The Patriots come out in a jumbo set with Munford as the in-line tight end, Hunter Henry beside him at flanker, and Stevenson behind an offset Westover. The Ravens, having seen this look and play twice already, send out their 6-1 defense and load up in that direction.

Westover surges toward the left B-gap, and Stevenson presses that way to influence LB Roquan Smith. Once Smith commits, Stevenson bounces behind Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu, and Garrett Bradbury, weaves behind a Kyle Williams block downfield, and slips two tackles to seize a late lead.

POWER/COUNTER

Power and counter are nearly identical to duo, but with linemen pulling to create a numbers advantage at the point of attack. The key difference between them is that power blocks the edge with a skill player, while counter seals the edge with a pulling lineman.

These concepts are typically paired with lighter groupings and called from shotgun, allowing McDaniels to tag additional run or pass options. 

Power has been one of the Patriots’ most efficient runs, despite not being as popular as duo or zone. It’s averaged over six yards when called, easily the most among the offense’s core concepts, and it led to one of New England’s most aesthetically pleasing scores this season. 

The Patriots come out in another jumbo set featuring Munford at tight end, but with Austin Hooper beside him on the right wing, Henry on the left wing, and Henderson in the backfield. The Bills counter with their 4-3 under front to create a five-man front with the strong safety creeping toward the line.

Henderson’s jab step freezes the unblocked corner, Munford and Morgan Moses put the playside defensive end on skates, and Hooper sets a solid edge for Wilson’s lead block. At the second level, Bradbury and Wilson connect on their climbs, and Munford and Moses put the their initial assignment in the middle linebacker’s lap, and Henderson shows his home run speed by exploiting the massive hole for a 52-yard score.

Counter is one of New England’s less popular runs, but it’s seeing an uptick and has led to multiple big plays. 

The Giants’ defense matches New England’s three-receiver set with a 4-2 front and two high safeties, giving the offense a favorable run look. The Patriots deploy a bunch with Henry at off-ball tight end, Hollins at the point, and DeMario Douglas outside.

Douglas motions to the backfield pre-snap before simulating a sweep, and Henderson fakes a block before following pulls from Onwenu and Henry.

Backups Vederian Lowe and Ben Brown get excellent push on a combo to the backside linebacker, Onwenu lets Abdul Carter run upfield, and Henderson follows second-level blocks from Boutte and Henry. Henry’s man falls off his block late, but Henderson breaks free before finishing with authority.

Power and counter could prove to be a dangerous ace up the Patriots’ sleeve, particularly when incorporating quarterback runs and different pass concepts.

OUTSIDE ZONE

Outside zone aims to create perimeter or cutback lanes by pushing defenders toward the sideline. 

New England calls outside zone almost exclusively from under-center, which provides a cleaner read for ball-carriers, but uses several different groupings.

The horizontal concept doesn’t bring the boom quite like duo or power, but it gives explosive backs like Henderson space to bring the lightning. In fact, outside zone is one of the few concepts New England has averaged positive EPA/play on this season, and 

It’s also been effective with key pieces like Wilson and Will Campbell and out of the lineup, as shown on this explosive gain against the Giants.  

The Patriots get a similar defensive look after sending out another bunch with three receivers, but this time, Drake Maye lines up center to set up a wide handoff.

Lowe uproots the edge, Brown and Bradbury lock up their assignments to give Henderson a lane, and Boutte cracks down hard on the safety, allowing Henderson to accelerate past the sticks. Onwenu and Moses also throw strong backside.

The interior could be more consistent blocking second-level defenders, and a fumble off Westover’s thigh thwarted a well-blocked attempt last week, but these runs feel like a big play waiting to happen.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Patriots should keep building momentum against a Jets run defense that has ranked in the bottom 10 since Week 12. DI Jowon Briggs and LB Quincy Williams have struggled to hold the point of attack, and ED Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) has been ruled out.

The offense will also feature rookies Kyle Williams and Efton Chism in much more roles down the stretch, setting the stage for Stevenson to hit New York with repeated body blows to hide a passing game that could take time to gel.

Henderson’s status is still up in the air as he works his way back from a concussion, but there’s hope he’ll be available on Sunday. If available, that one-two punch could prove to be more than the Jets can handle for 60 minutes. 

McDaniels could crank up his outside zone use to exploit a depleted edge group, but as always, he’ll mix things up to keep New York on their toes.

Tougher tests await down the road, but if New England keeps building on recent success while avoiding major setbacks, it will be impossible to see the ground game as anything less than a surprise strength entering the postseason.

The post Patriots Run Game Becoming a Strength Ahead of Playoffs appeared first on CLNS Media.

Since losing Milton Williams to a high-ankle sprain early against the Jets, New England has seen virtually no drop-off in pass rush efficiency. In fact, according to PFF, their pressure rate has slightly increased since Week 11.

Some of their success can be attributed to Christian Barmore’s consistently disruptive presence. The usual nose tackle has spent more time at Williams’ usual defensive tackle spot, where he’s drawn fewer doubles. Barmore has notched three hurries in each of his past three games, and he trails only Moro Ojomo and Arik Armstead in total hurries this season.

Rookie Elijah Ponder has also flashed recently, recording two sacks in three weeks. The edge rusher spent some time inside against the Giants to counter Jaxson Dart’s athleticism.

As valiant as some individual efforts have been, Williams’ impact can’t be replaced by just one player, so New England has ramped up its use of second-level rushers and line games to help pick up some of the slack.

This manufactured pressure has led to crucial stops, and it could be crucial to slowing down Josh Allen this Sunday.

New England blitzed on just 20.0% of Allen’s dropbacks in Week 5 and stunted on 22.5%, both bottom-three rates for the defense this season. 

This strategy afforded Allen time and space to burn the back end, especially on man coverage or play-action snaps. But in round two, it sounds like the Patriots will be taking the fight to the Bills. 

“Well, you can keep him in the pocket. He’s just got to stand there and wait for somebody to uncover,” Mike Vrabel told reporters on Wednesday. “Coordinated and relentless is probably the best way to phrase it. Because, again, you say, “Well, keep him in the pocket.” And then guys are just standing there, and they’re cautious, and we don’t want to coach that way.” 

With this more aggressive approach in mind, here are three ways the Patriots’ defense can use their scheme to affect Josh Allen. 

Stunts

Line games or “stunts” create confusion and unblocked pressure by having rushers exchange gaps post-snap. 

They’ve been a staple of New England’s penetrating front under Vrabel and interim defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr, but they’ve seen a spike of over 10% spike since Week 11.

Stunts have contributed to most of New England’s pressures in recent weeks, with Barmore being a focal point as both a penetrator and looper. 

Elijah Ponder gets the 3rd down sack on Fields! #Patriots pic.twitter.com/xojzQe7wn3

— Follow: @ThrowbackPATS (@ThrowbackPATS) November 14, 2025

Facing third-and-two, Barmore lines up at Williams’ usual defensive tackle spot in a four-man front. The Jets slide their five-man protection toward nose tackle Cory Durden, leaving Barmore one-on-one with LG John Simpson.

New England calls a T-E twist with Barmore crashing outside to spring Ponder. Durden puts the pocket in Justin Fields’ lap, Barmore gets pressure while picking Olu Fashanu, and Ponder retraces for the sack.

The Patriots got solid pressure on stunts in Week 5, but shaky rush lane integrity and too many open gaps contributed to multiple conversions. This time around, keep the relentlessness and tighten up the coordination.

Mug Fronts

By dialing up more blitzes, the Patriots can minimize Allen’s escape lanes and create even more confusion on line games. 

In fact, their only Week 5 came courtesy of a twist between Barmore and Williams, with Jaylinn Hawkins setting contain off the edge.

The #Patriots had two really well-timed blitzes vs Josh Allen

On the first, Jaylinn Hawkins' rush prevented a scramble right and combined with Harold Landry's loop to free Milton Williams for a sack

On the second, Carlton Davis came unblocked to influence a quick checkdown pic.twitter.com/Vad5A3UxJy

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 7, 2025

That sack, like most of New England’s recent knockdowns, involved mug fronts with at least one off-ball defender head up over an interior linemen. By forcing blockers to respect blitz, defenses can influence protection schemes and create post-snap hesitation. 

Like stunts, mug fronts are nothing new for the Patriots’ defense, but they’ve been a regular part of recent third-down and rush packages. 

Elijah Ponder gets his 3rd sack of the season! #Patriots pic.twitter.com/R3QcTgGgSa

— Follow: @ThrowbackPATS (@ThrowbackPATS) December 2, 2025

With the Giants in a pass look on second down, New England lines up in a wide defensive front with Ponder inside, Jack Gibbens over C John Michael Schmitz Jr., and Christian Elliss creeping toward the line.

The front calls twists on both sides with Barmore freeing Anfernee Jennings, Elliss freeing Ponder, and K’Lavon Chaisson forcing Dart into the loopers. Elliss collides with his target while drawing the back, and Gibbens’ late drop leaves the center’s head spinning, leading to a wide-open lane and another Ponder sack.

Calculated misdirection is one of the best ways to attack the Bills’ sturdy offensive line, but there’s one more tactic the Patriots have leaned on to speed up opposing quarterbacks. 

COVER 0

Cover 0 indicates zero deep help with coverage defenders in some form of man coverage, sometimes using zone principles like passing off assignments. It’s often thought of as an all-out blitz, but defenders often pop out of their rush based on the blocking scheme.

Cover 0 has been a hit-or-miss for the Patriots this season, as evidenced by the Giants’ 30-yard touchdown in Week 13.

Darius Slayton FIGHTS for it

: ESPN pic.twitter.com/5wSPABhRfl

— New York Giants (@Giants) December 2, 2025

That said, New England has been successful with the coverage when scheme and execution have aligned, including game-sealing stops in each of the last two games. 

Christian Elliss ends his night with a PBU on 4th down! Really good game for him! pic.twitter.com/AeUjAlw1Cg

— Follow: @ThrowbackPATS (@ThrowbackPATS) December 2, 2025

Facing fourth-and-eight with the game on the line, the Patriots create a seven-man front before the snap to overload New York’s six-man protection. The defense lines up in a wide front similar to Ponder’s last sack, but with Gibbens and Elliss mugging late and Hawkins blitzing to prevent a Dart dash.

The Giants slide toward Elliss and assign the back to Gibbens, but Gibbens generates quick pressure, and Elliss pops out late before elevating for a game-sealing pass-breakup.

Blitzing Allen is far from a guaranteed win, as he’s more likely to fight off the first rusher than he is to go down. Swarming to the football and fighting off stiff-arms will be a major point of emphasis against the 6’5”, 237-pounder.

Final Thoughts

If the Patriots’ rush picks its spots wisely and doesn’t give Allen easy outs, the coverage should be able to suffocate Buffalo’s passing game.

Allen is always good for a handful of soul-crushing plays a week, but if Vrabel’s team has taught us anything, it’s that they can respond. Given the team’s last performance and the head coach’s undefeated record coming off a bye week, I expect the defense to bring its A-game and make another statement in its biggest game this season.  

The post How Patriots Pass Rush Can Heat Up Josh Allen appeared first on CLNS Media.

Days after placing defensive tackle Milton Williams (hamstring) on injured reserve, New England lost left tackle Will Campbell (knee), left guard Jared Wilson (ankle), special teams ace Brenden Schooler (ankle), and nose tackle Khyiris Tonga (chest) to injury. Campbell and Wilson had to be carted off the field, and right tackle Morgan Moses (illness) also missed a stretch in the second quarter. Head coach Mike Vrabel had no updates on today’s injuries when asked postgame.

These could’ve been devastating blows for most teams, and each loss was felt at certain points. But New England showed their trademark resilience by overcoming both an onslaught of injuries and a slow start.

Josh McDaniels‘ offense looked uncharacteristically out of sync throughout the game. Bad accuracy and decisions sandwiched Drake Maye’s up-and-down performance, and the Patriots finished 5-13 on third downs. They did follow early punts and a pick-six with a 70-yard touchdown drive, but poor execution in scoring territory helped keep Cincinnati in the game.

Zak Kuhr’s ailing ground defense took another step back without Milton Williams and, for most of the game, Tonga, but the pass defense largely kept a lid on things. Joe Flacco finished with a 63.2 passer rating and an interception, and top receiver Tee Higgins finished with just 31 yards and five catches on six targets before leaving with a head injury.

New England’s depth will be tested in the coming weeks, and there will be plenty of lessons to learn from what was at times a sloppy performance. Fortunately, Vrabel’s squad will have an extra day of rest with Monday Night Football on the horizon, and as the head coach often says, it’s better to learn from a win than a loss.

Stock Report

Stock Up: Tight Ends

Hunter Henry had a career day in Cincinnati, setting personal records with 115 receiving yards on seven catches.

Drake Maye finds a wide open Hunter Henry for Pats touchdown!

NEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/TKoL4G3sMA

— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2025

Henry scored the offense’s only touchdown, moved the chains on an early third down, and turned a short catch into an explosive gain on 1st & 20. Henry also set up a goal-line possession on a shovel pass after having a touchdown called back.

Austin Hooper also got in on the fun in his return from a concussion, gaining a chunk of yards off play action and adjusting to a back-shoulder throw during two-minute.

In a game where execution was inconsistent and wide receivers were quiet, the two veterans stepped up big and directly contributed to New England’s win.

Stock Down: Drake Maye’s Ball Security

Maye found a groove in the middle of the game and came through with some clutch plays.

The quarterback’s eye discipline and pocket presence got Henry wide open on his score, and his deep completion to DeMario Douglas was practically a handoff. Maye also dropped a fade to Mack Hollins in the bucket before taking a hit.

Drake Maye airs it deep to DeMario Douglas! (not a touchdown)

NEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/iA7GR1joRm

— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2025

While Maye’s usual flashes of greatness were present, they were nearly overshadowed by how he performed to begin and end this game. After some ugly misses and a failed third-down that felt dead on arrival, he overthrew a wide-open Henry over the intermediate middle for a pick-six. He missed high again on his next attempt before scrambling for a third-down conversion and leading a touchdown drive.

Later, during New England’s final drive, Maye missed behind an open Hollins, then nearly threw another pick-six on a 3rd & 7 prayer to Stefon Diggs against an all-out blitz. He also recovered his own fumble on one of his scrambles.

Second-year quarterbacks are bound to make bone-headed mistakes, but slow starts have been a trend, and Maye has yet to show he can protect the ball consistently. As games become more meaningful, injuries pile up, and the playoffs approach, Maye can’t continue to show up in the “Sh*t That Gets You Beat” column.

Stock Up: Pass Defense

Marcus Jones gave the Patriots a much-needed spark by matching Geno Stone’s pick-six, and though he may have arrived a bit early, the corner’s pass breakup against former teammate Mike Gesicki secured the win.

Carlton Davis‘ three pass breakups on the final drive were one of the stories of the game, and they made up for a rough pass interference call on Higgins’ final play.

Gonzalez’s touchdown allowed was an unfamiliar lapse from the All-Pro, but he was quiet the rest of the afternoon while shadowing Higgins.

Christian Barmore and Chaisson seemed to bring the heat when given opportunities, with the latter getting the initial pressure on Harold Landry’s sack. Gregory also had two straight pressures on a late drive.

Stock Down: Red Zone Execution

The Patriots’ offense went 0-2 in the red zone and felt disjointed on both trips.

While it’s notable that Dax Hill’s penalties prevented two Kayshon Boutte scores, the Patriots failed to convert on seven plays from Cincinnati’s one-yard line. The run game was non-existent, Hollins nullified a touchdown by setting an obvious pick, and Maye appeared to make the wrong choice on an RPO where two unblocked defenders stuffed Rhamondre Stevenson. Communication also appeared to be an issue, even forcing the team to burn time-outs.

New England’s defense held Cincinnati to just one red zone trip, but Christian Gonzalez gave up six points on a rare deep loss to Mitch Tinsley.

Red-zone execution has been inconsistent on both sides of the ball for multiple weeks, and it must be a significant focus moving forward.

Stock Up: Andy Borregales

Andy Borregales has been one of the best players on the Patriots’ roster this season.

The rookie built on his excellent season by making all four of his field goal attempts, including makes of 41, 45, and a clutch 52-yarder to help seal the win. Borregales also forced Charlie Jones to return a kick from just shy of his own end zone, and none of the Bengals’ kickoffs went for more than 26 yards.

Stock Down: Run Defense

The Patriots’ defensive front has been pushed around a bit in recent weeks, and injuries only exacerbated issues against the Bengals.

Christian Barmore and Cory Durden should be expected to hold their ground, but that didn’t appear to be the case on most plays. Chase Brown gained 107 yards on 19 carries, including three explosive runs, and most of that success came between the tackles. Edge discipline also seemed suspect at times.

Durden and K’Lavon Chaisson ended the game with the defensive line’s only run stuffs, and Robert Spillane ended the day with one on four total tackles.

Eric Gregory did flash at times, and he’ll need to grow up quickly if injuries continue to chip away at the interior. Fellow rookie Joshua Farmer was also inactive despite being a full participant this week, and he could help reinforce the interior when he returns to the lineup.

The tape will ultimately tell the tale of the ground game’s struggles this week, but coaches and players must do everything within their power to clog what has become a gaping hole in a once-top-tier unit.

Stock Up: TreVeyon Henderson

TreVeyon Henderson averaged just 3.7 yards on 18 carries, but there was more to his performance than the stats suggest.

The rookie continued stacking positive performances, turning over half of his carries into successful gains. He also got one or two plays that should’ve gone for negative or no yardage past the line of scrimmage, and he was reliable (if potentially under-utilized) underneath.

Henderson was crucial to keeping multiple scoring drives alive, including killing the clock late during the offense’s final drive. While Stevenson’s improved health could affect their splits down the road, it was also notable that Henderson was the clear lead back and made the most of his opportunities, while Stevenson managed just five yards on six carries.

The post Patriots Suffer Key Injuries in 26-20 Win vs Bengals appeared first on CLNS Media.

Mike Vrabel’s team is coming off its eighth straight win after a division win last Thursday night. Josh McDaniels‘ offense played one of its cleanest games this season, and Zak Kuhr’s defense allowed just two scores despite occasional lapses. The victory cost them one of their best defenders in Milton Williams, who landed on short-term injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, but reinforcements could be on the way for both sides of the ball.

Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), Christian Elliss (hip), Austin Hooper (concussion), Joshua Farmer (ankle), and Terrell Jennings (knee) were all full participants in Thursday’s practice, indicating they should be good to go. Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) has been limited this week, but ascending rookie TreVeyon Henderson should be able to handle the bulk of touches if necessary.

The Bengals enter Week 12 in a very different situation, having lost seven of their last eight games with their playoff hopes dwindling. Star quarterback Joe Burrow was absent in each of those defeats due to turf toe, but he’s trending toward a return after being a full participant in two practices. While that should be a significant boost for Cincinnati’s offense, the team will still be without multiple key players.

Top-tier receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been suspended for spitting, productive edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is out with a hip/pelvis injury, and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt could miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. The Bengals’ offense has enough talent to survive without Chase, but one of the worst defenses in NFL history is expected to regress even further without two starters.

Congratulations to the #Bengals, who made it to the bottom. I wasn't sure this week's game with the Steelers was bad enough, but the Bengals now have the worst defensive DVOA ever measured (through 10 games).

(Higher DVOA = More Offense) pic.twitter.com/Co8mObe7F9

— Aaron Schatz (@ASchatzNFL) November 17, 2025

Cincinnati is the only defense in the league averaging over 30 points allowed per game. They’re also the only team giving up over 400 total yards per game. The Bengals’ ball-hawking secondary has been competitive with eight interceptions, tied for the 11th-most. Still, their one fumble recovery this season is tied for the fewest in the NFL.

The stage is set for a potential blowout if the Patriots bring their A-game, but it will take a few key steps to get there. Here’s how the Patriots can earn their ninth straight win and improve to the organization’s first 10-win season since 2021,

Shadow Tee Higgins with Christian Gonzalez

Chase is a big loss for the Bengals’ passing attack, but Tee Higgins still presents a significant matchup problem. The six-year veteran has produced at a high level despite a relatively low target share, ranking in the top five at his position in touchdowns and yards per reception.

Higgins’ build-up speed, tracking, and ball skills make him especially dangerous on verticals outside the numbers. He can also box defenders out on in-breakers and survive contact for explosive gains.

TEE TORCHES 'EM

: #CHIvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/Jrij7eSNT4

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 2, 2025

While fellow receivers Andrei Iosivas and Mitch Tinsley shouldn’t be overlooked, Higgins is on a different level. As such, he should spend most of Sunday’s game lining up against Christian Gonzalez, who shadowed Chase last season when Higgins was out with a hamstring injury.

Gonzalez stuck to the right side last week against the Garrett Wilson-less Jets, but he’s followed top receivers like Emeka Egbuka, Drake London, and Jerry Jeudy in other recent games. The All-Pro corner has allowed some easy conversions from off coverage, and he has yet to intercept a pass this season. Still, Gonzalez remains one of the league’s stickiest man corners and an incompletion waiting to happen on deep targets.

Higgins will make his plays, but he’s unlikely to take the top off or slip out of a tackle with Gonzalez in coverage. Eliminating those big plays will be crucial, but it won’t be the only key to keeping Cincy’s offense quiet.

Shut Down Chase Brown

Chase Brown might not be a household name, but he’s performed like a top-five running back since Week 7.

Brown’s 83.3 rushing grade over that span ranks fourth among qualified backs, and only DeVon Achane and Jonathan Taylor have more runs of at least 15 yards. The versatile back also has 39 catches this season, the most for any Bengal not named Ja’Marr Chase.

Brown thrives between the tackles as a runner and brings explosive potential on arrow routes from the backfield. He should present another tough test for the Patriots’ front, which has been solid defending backs through the air but is bending more than usual on the ground.

BROWN BREAKS INTO THE END ZONE

: #NYJvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/rcpg36xYnz

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 26, 2025

“We’ll have to play the run much better, obviously, moving forward,” Vrabel said on Monday. “Brown’s a great back. He makes a lot out of nothing sometimes, and the cracks, his burst, and his contact balance. So, he’s been fun to watch. We’ll have to do a great job this week.”

New England has allowed as many explosive runs in the last three games as they had in their previous eight game combined. They’ve also given up 100 yards in each of the last two weeks, which had previously only happened in Week 4 against the Panthers.

In fairness, the defense has been excellent, swarming to and taking down ball-carriers, and Justin Fields‘ legs were a big factor in Thursday night’s struggles. That said, the defensive line hasn’t been as sturdy, forcing Robert Spillane and the linebackers to deal with second-level blockers.

Losing Williams is obviously a big blow to the defensive line. Still, between Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Cory Durden, and rookies Joshua Farmer and Eric Gregory, there’s more than enough beef inside for the Patriots to resume clogging lanes if they get back to fundamentals. Barmore taking more snaps at defensive tackle, where he’ll see fewer doubles than he did at his usual nose spot, should lead to more impact plays from the dominant defender. Defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson must also be more consistent in setting and crashing the edge.

The run defense has the players and coaches to bounce back from their current slump, and they must to help prevent a potential upset. In coverage, coaches must do their best to avoid mismatches with Brown against bigger linebackers in space, which could lead to some Achane-esque results in crucial moments.

Feed TreVeyon Henderson

TreVeyon Henderson is on a heater.

The rookie has continued to improve since breaking out in Week 8 against the Browns, grading out as one of the league’s most explosive and elusive backs over that span.

Some may knock Henderson’s stat line due to his two field-flipping scores in Tampa Bay, but even without that game, he’s been a top-ten back by multiple metrics.

The Ohio State product has also been one of the most productive receivers at his position since Week 9.

If Henderson stays on a similar trajectory, he could be in for a monster day in his return to his college state.

No defense is allowing more rushing yards per game than the Bengals, largely because of poor tackling, and they’re the only team with a run stuff rate below 10%. Cincinnati did take a step in the right direction last week following a bye, but they still gave up over 100 yards to the Steelers’ backs.

Most of these struggles have come outside the tackles, where New England’s shaky run blocking has been at its best. According to Next Gen Stats, the offense has averaged +0.04 EPA per play on such carries this season, the tenth-best mark in the league, compared to -0.21 between the tackles, which ranks in the bottom five.

Two TD Trey @TreVeyonH4 | #NEPats

Prime Video pic.twitter.com/uvSCkcI0wZ

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 14, 2025

The Bengals have also allowed the most receiving touchdowns and yards after catch to backfield targets this season, with linebackers Barrett Carter and Oren Burks bearing much of that responsibility. Opponents have turned simple screens and mesh plays into explosive gains, and throws to the left flat have been productive go-tos in the red zone. Given McDaniels’ deep bag of running back route concepts, Cincinnati’s second level could be in deep trouble this weekend.

THE TREYFECTA @TreVeyonH4

Prime Video pic.twitter.com/pCYLVNsQSL

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 14, 2025

Even if Stevenson returns to the lineup this weekend, Henderson should get plenty of chances to punish the Bengals in space and add to his impressive streak.

The post How Patriots Can Improve to 6-0 Road Record vs Bengals appeared first on CLNS Media.

Entering 2025, most thought head coach Mike Vrabel’s team would be lucky to sneak into the playoffs. 10 weeks into the season, New England is tied for the best record and longest win streak in the NFL. This new regime and roster are still very much in their infancy, and the team is far from perfect, but the Patriots have consistently shown the kind of resilience that playoff contenders are made of.

Much like last week, New England allowed a fierce defense and clutch quarterback to stay in the game late. But once again, they made the plays it needed to and pulled out another close win against a playoff-caliber opponent.

Josh McDaniels‘ offense was mostly a liablility rushing and inconsistent throwing, but key contributions from rookies and some efforts from Drake Maye made the difference.

Zak Kuhr’s defense allowed another opening drive touchdown after bucking that trend last week, but largely buttoned up after that and held off a comeback attempt against fourth quarter king Baker Mayfield.

While the Patriots must turn the page and make some crucial adjustments on a short week, this was another convincing win that proves this 2025 team is for real.

The Good

Wide Receivers

It was an up-and-down day for the Patriots’ passing game, but the wide receiver group was ultra-reliable when called upon.

Mack Hollins recorded his first 100-yard game with New England. He moved the chains multiple times, and he caught Maye’s only deep completion of the day off of a well-run double-move and impressive throw.

This is insane @DrakeMaye2

CBS pic.twitter.com/Rarg60PjaQ

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 9, 2025

Hollins also made himself available on a wild third-down conversion with Maye throwing from a collapsing pocket.

DRAKE. MAYE. IN THE POCKET.@DrakeMaye2 | @mackhollins

CBS pic.twitter.com/BPye6SrJoL

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 9, 2025

Stefon Diggs only had 46 yards on five catches and eight targets, but he caught two of Maye’s first completions, drew a defensive pass interference, and made an incredible toe-tap grab on 4th & goal before halftime to set up an eventual double-dip. Diggs also caught the onside kick that sealed the game.

THIS IS ELITEEEEE

CBS https://t.co/F99ASvyHdk pic.twitter.com/nfzennGoNv

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 9, 2025

DeMario Douglas also made the most of his opportunities, turning one of his two targets into 26 yards following a clutch 3rd & 7 throw from Maye.

Pop moves the chains on 3rd down @DrakeMaye2 | @popshotta3

CBS pic.twitter.com/WthwlqWxkV

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 9, 2025

Rookie Skill Players

TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams have had relatively quiet starts to their careers, but both rookies made game-changing plays with their elite speed.

Williams scored the Patriots’ first points of the game, exploding for 72 yards on a 13-yard catch. According to Next Gen Stats, the receiver’s 21.78 MPH top speed was the fastest for a rookie ball-carrier this season and the seventh-fastest for any ball-carrier this season.

Pats rookie WR Kyle Williams takes off for a 72-yard score!

NEvsTB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/2iQpcxOXe3

— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025

Henderson was responsible for New England’s third touchdown, exploiting a crease behind Morgan Moses, Hunter Hery, and Hollins before outrunning the Buccaneers’ defense for a 55-yard score. Henderson hit a max speed of 22.01 MPH, quickly topping Williams for the fastest touch by a rookie and recording this season’s fifth-fastest carry for any ball-carrier.

Watch that boy GOOOOOO!!@TreVeyonH4 | #NEPats

CBS pic.twitter.com/7sb9b3eQ92

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 9, 2025

One quarter later, Henderson helped put the game away by keeping his balance on a toss and taking off for a 69-yard score down the left sideline.

TreVeyon Henderson hit a top speed of 21.38 MPH on his second 50+ yard TD of the day, per @NextGenStats

Watch live local and primetime games on mobile with #NFLPlus
Subscription required for NFL+pic.twitter.com/Y9FU90PJFk

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) November 9, 2025

The speedy back also gained 16 yards on a 3rd & 9 toss early in the game, foreshadowing his explosive performance. Obviously, more consistent performances from each rookie would be ideal moving forward, but this was a big step in the right direction for both young playmakers.

Pass Rush

The pass rush came up clutch in big moments, recording two sacks and coming one desperate fourth-down heave from a third.

K’Lavon Chaisson was disruptive throughout the game, recording a sack and causing a quick pressure on Mayfield’s last dropback.

DEFENSE WITH THE STOP

CBS pic.twitter.com/NsjYcA9eFX

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 9, 2025

Rookie Elijah Ponder flashed his potential against All-Pro Tristan Wirfs, notching his first career sack off a quick win and high-effort play from the right side.

Elijah Ponder:

-beats Tristan Wirfs
-gets held (uncalled)
-can't tackle Baker Mayfield but drives him up in the pocket
-keeps going from his place on the turf
-finally gets the sack he deserves pic.twitter.com/9vyfJkAYVA

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 9, 2025

Fellow edge rusher Harold Landry and defensive tackles Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga, and Cory Durden were also noticeable getting after the passer.

The Bad

Run Blocking

The Patriots’ three explosives–which did feature some encouraging blocks–masked an overall dreadful performance from the ground game.

Top backs Henderson and Terrell Jennings combined for six run stuffs on 18 carries, with each stuff coming on carries to the left. Henderson was also tackled for losses of four and two yards in the fourth quarter, and he had three runs in the first half go for no gain.

If the Patriots want to make a serious playoff push, they must be more consistent on the ground and keep Maye from having to win on his own.

Run Defense

The Patriots’ run defense had its worst performance of the season despite facing a battered Buccaneers ground game. It was also the second time in as many weeks that backs have had sizable lanes at multiple points.

Sean Tucker became the first running back to reach 50 rushing yards against New England this season, averaging 5.9 yards on nine carries. Rachaad White also had five successful carries on 10 attempts, while receivers Sterling Shepard and Kameron Johnson each had 11-yard carries.

With the ground-and-pound Jets coming to town this Thursday, the Patriots must tighten up quickly to avoid a potential rock fight against their division rival.

Coverage vs Emeka Egbuka

Emeka Egbuka only caught six of his 13 targets, but four went for gains of 20+ yards, including a 21-yard score on the Buccaneers’ first drive.

Egbuka’s touchdown was a wide-open target that marked New England’s second blown red zone coverage in as many games. Responsibility seemingly fell on Jones, who also lost Bijan Robinson in scoring territory last week.

FIRE THE CANNONS

: #NEvsTB on CBS pic.twitter.com/zBXIJ5oBoI

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 9, 2025

Christian Gonzalez gave up three conversions to Ebguka, all while in off coverage, though he was competitive in man coverage and helped force a pair of third-down stops.

The Sh*t That Gets You Beat

Too Many Turnover-Worthy Plays

The red zone pick came with the Patriots on the cusp of widening their lead, and it was a forced decision that could’ve handed the Buccaneers the game.

TYKEE SMITH WITH THE INT

: #NEvsTB on CBS pic.twitter.com/TWFiCbGGAP

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 9, 2025

The interception was also Maye’s second or third near-interception of the game. Winfield nearly intercepted him on a middle-field throw to Austin Hooper, and SirVocea Dennis had a third-down pass bounce right off his hands.

These plays will happen with a young gunslinger learning his limits, but Maye has put the ball in harm’s way more and more as the quality of his opponent has improved. Hopefully, he can continue learning from these lessons and begin trending in a more positive direction.

Red Zone Defense

The Buccaneers went 2-3 in the red zone, and it was 3-4 if you count Egbuka scoring from the 21-yard line.

Carlton Davis and Craig Woodson had competitive coverage on Tez Johnson’s scores, and Davis, in particular, was put in a tough spot on a scramble drill.

TEZMANIA

: #NEvsTB on CBS pic.twitter.com/NBA1UOtxHK

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 9, 2025

The defense deserves credit for being competitive on nearly all recent touchdowns allowed, but today’s lapses would’ve been more glaring if Diggs hadn’t recovered the onside kick. Outside of keeping offenses from reaching their 20-yard line, New England must find a way to tighten up in scoring territory down the stretch.

The post Patriots Look Like Contenders in 28-23 Win Over Buccaneers appeared first on CLNS Media.

That said, coordinator Josh McDaniels‘ offense has some things to clean up after the 24-23 nail-biter.

Maye was responsible for four takedowns in his second straight game taking six sacks. As impressive as he’s been under duress, Maye has been responsible for more sacks than any quarterback not named Jaxson Dart, and he’s committed three fumbles in two games.

The offensive line–which ranked as an elite pass blocking unit from Weeks 2-7–has also shown cracks against elite rushes from the Browns and Falcons.

Will Campbell has been the best pass-protecting rookie in the NFL, but he’s allowed four sacks in the past two weeks, his first since the opener. Jared Wilson has been inconsistent all season, trailing only Joe Tippmann in sacks allowed among guards. Mike Onwenu gave up his first sack of the season on last week’s disastrous two-minute play, and he struggled both one-on-one and against stunts. Morgan Moses hasn’t allowed a sack or hit since September, but he’s been knocked off balance by speed-to-power. Even Garrett Bradbury, who’s blown away expectations in pass pro, has suffered some quick losses in recent weeks. TreVeyon Henderson deserves credit for good vision and slow deaths in blitz pickup, but he did contribute to a Maye table-top.

Screws must be tightened quickly against the Buccaneers, yet another team with a dominant pass rush, an elite corner in Jamel Dean, and a blend of youth and experience at each level.

Mike Vrabel had high praise for head coach Todd Bowles and his squad while breaking down the defense earlier this week.

“They’ve got veteran players that play physical, two really aggressive corners,” Vrabel said. “Obviously, the safeties, playmakers with [Antoine] Winfield [Jr.], but up front, Vita [Vea], [Haason] Reddick, and [Yaya] Diaby. Lavonte David’s been doing it at such a high level… And then what Todd adds is just a lot of pressure, great disguises, bringing multiple players from off the football. It’s not just a linebacker; you could have a corner, you could have a safety, [you] could have the nickel, and the coverage changes. And you’ve seen them force a lot of turnovers, especially on third down, when quarterbacks are making quick decisions, that they make the wrong decision. So, 10 turnovers in the last four games, this will be critical that we take care of the football.”

Vea, Diaby, and Reddick, and edge Anthony Nelson can collapse the pocket all by themselves, but Tampa Bay can also rain fire from any position at any time.

Linebacker SirVocea Dennis is tied for the 10th-most pressures among linebackers, while David’s three sacks are tied for the fourth-most at the position. Rookie slot Jacob Parrish leads all corners with two sacks, and only Seahawk Nick Emmanwori has more pressures. Safeties Antoine Winfield and Tykee Smith are also top ten in pressures at their position.

While New England must be ready for the blitz, McDaniels was quick to point out there’s a method to Bowles’ madness, which could mean different things on different days.

“I don’t know how many times we’ve competed against each other, but it’s a lot, and none of them are easy,” McDaniels said. “You’re exhausted at the end of the game. There’s a challenge to the way you enter the game, and then all of a sudden, the game takes on a different reality. There have been games where he’s blitzed us endlessly and other games where it’s been more tempered, but there’s always a reason for it. I’ve been so impressed with that, and if he finds something that’s an issue, he’s going to make it an issue as long as he can.”

Whether the Buccaneers bluff all game or decide to send the house, Bowles and his defense won’t make things easy for Maye and McDaniels on Sunday. But if the Patriots can start fast and exploit some key vulnerabilities, it could be too much for Tampa Bay’s battered offense to overcome.

Here are my keys to the Patriots pulling off an upset and extending their six-game win streak.

Game Plan Keys

Run Right

Nothing slows down a pass rush better than running the ball, but that’ll be easier said than done against the Buccaneers’ ground defense. According to Next Gen Stats, no group is averaging fewer yards allowed after contact, and Tampa Bay is stuffing runs at the fifth-highest rate in the league.

Vea and David lead a front full of impactful penetrators. Dennis has been a standout against the run, trailing only Quinnen Williams in stop rate among qualified defenders and missing zero tackles. Parrish, Smith, and outside corner Zyon McCollum are also among the most productive run-stuffing defensive backs.

As formidable as the Buccaneers have been, Tampa Bay is averaging the league’s fifth-most yards allowed before contact, and teams have had success running to the offense’s right at defensive ends Logan Hall and Greg Gaines. Reddick has also been a bit boom-or-bust when teams target the perimeter.

The Seahawks and 49ers ripped off chunks to the sideline and on zone cutbacks inside. Seattle and the Lions also gashed the Buccaneers inside on gap concepts.

Inconsistency has plagued the Patriots’ ground game, and Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) is slated to miss his second game, but the unit is stacking improved performances.

TreVeyon Henderson has set career-highs in yards after contact two weeks straight in positive showings, and Terrell Jennings has emerged as a physical rotational player.

Most of that production has come on downhill runs behind right guard Mike Onwenu, right tackle Morgan Moses, and the Patriots’ tight ends, so the stars could align for a respectable day on the ground if Vea and the linebackers don’t wreck things. Converted fullback Jack Westover’s increasing role has also made the offense less predictable, and two-back sets were a staple of McDaniels’ (brief) run plan in these teams’ 2021 matchup.

Unleash Play Action

The Patriots used play action on just five dropbacks against Atlanta, their second-fewest in a game this season. This has typically been an area of strength for the offense, but New England didn’t convert on any of these dropbacks against a stingy Falcons defense.

This week, New England has a chance to bounce back against a Buccaneers team that’s allowing the fourth-most yards per play against play action.

Sam Darnold and Mac Jones shredded Tampa Bay’s defense on downfield in-breakers, particularly crossers and digs. Maye could be missing his favorite dig target in Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) this weekend, but DeMario Douglas and Stefon Diggs were open on crossers all game against Atlanta. Douglas has also proven to be dangerous deep in schemed matchups against safeties.

Time in the pocket and downfield opportunities will be tough to come by in obvious passing situations, so maximizing play action will be crucial to generating explosive plays.

Target TreVeyon Henderson

While TreVeyon Henderson hasn’t been the dynamic threat most expected out of training camp, he’s popped as an outlet receiver the past two weeks.

The Buccaneers’ emphasis on aggressiveness up front and sound coverage deep makes them a tough test for any young passer, but it’s also left them vulnerable underneath.

Jahmyr Gibbs had three explosives on quick throws to the right flat, and Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey turned third-down dump-offs into chunk gains. Even bigger backs, David Montgomery and Nick Chubb, have had big plays out of the backfield, including a pair of successful screens.

Dennis has been the common theme in these struggles. The linebacker’s 484 receiving yards allowed are the most for any player this season, and he hasn’t disrupted a single pass in his area. McDaniels excels at exposing a defense’s weak link, and there’s precedent for his backs having success against a Bowles-led defense.

Brandon Bolden and Damien Harris combined for 81 yards against Tampa Bay in 2021, largely on schemed touches. Tight-end Jonnu Smith also gained 12 yards from a split-back look to beat a blitz, which could be relevant one week after Douglas’ backfield score.

If you’ve been clamoring for a true breakout performance from Henderson, this matchup might be the game for you.

The post How Drake Maye and Patriots Offense Can Bounce Back vs Buccaneers appeared first on CLNS Media.

This game had everything: momentum swings, explosive plays, turnovers, clashes between top-tier players, even Cardi B!

OKURRR @iamcardib pic.twitter.com/3qZD63idsF

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 2, 2025

The Patriots squeaked out what looked like a potential blowout at halftime, due largely to a second-half collapse from Josh McDaniels’ offense, Drake London going full Thanos, and insufficient play from the team’s best position groups.

I wanted to harp on these things as I entered the elevator to attend head coach Mike Vrabel’s press conference, but then it dawned on me: the Patriots still won.

These are games New England would find a way to lose in recent seasons. Instead, each phase made plays when it had to and won on the back of complementary football. There’s something to be said for that, and Vrabel’s comments made it clear that this team is rising from the depths of the NFL one step at a time.

“Sure, but it’s a funny league, and we’re going to learn from winning so that we don’t have to learn from losing about taking care of the ball and complementary football and how quickly things can change,” Vrabel said. “End of the half, we take a nap, like we talked about the other day. We took a little nap and they scored and made it a one-possession game. Give them a lot of credit, but give our guys credit there for finishing and coming up big when we had to in the fourth quarter with the pressure, the intentional grounding forced them to punt, and then offensively being able to finish with the football was huge.”

Here’s the requisite bad and ugly, but most importantly for tonight, the good from the Patriots’ win against the Falcons.

The Good

DeMario Douglas

DeMario Douglas had a career day under difficult circumstances, recording his first 100-yard receiving game.

Douglas’ first catch was a beautifully-schemed play from McDaniels, who put the slot receiver at running back to create a mismatch against linebacker Jalon Walker.

RIGHT IN THE BREAD BASKET @DrakeMaye2 | @popshotta3

CBS pic.twitter.com/vGjvhhUL2P

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 2, 2025

Douglas’ next catch was 58-yard gain on 3rd & 7, winning a footrace across the field and slipping multiple tackles for nearly 30 yards after the catch.

Go CRAZY @popshotta3 @DrakeMaye2 | #NEPats

CBS pic.twitter.com/9AUyONvmOF

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 2, 2025

Douglas also moved the chains on a contested dig target during two-minute, and he boxed out his defender along the sideline for another contested conversion to start the second half.

Douglas’ big-play ability has flashed throughout the past month, and he’s excelled as a blocker when not getting the rock. It sounds like efforts could lead to an expanded role moving forward.

“We’ve got to keep finding Pop,” Vrabel said. “You always look, and when Pop doesn’t have the ball and somebody else does, he’s turning and blocking and doing all the things that we ask him to do to protect our identity. We have to continue to find him on some of these runaways or some of these slot plays that are really good for him. I love having him on the team. He’s fun to coach. He sits right up front, and he’s always into it. Great teammate. Always happy for his success.”

Run Defense

The Patriots’ ground defense extends its historic streak, holding elite back Bijan Robinson to 48 yards and just one explosive play.

Harold Landry, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Christian Gonzalez all had run stops, showing how sturdy New England was–and needed to be–on the perimeter. Defensive backs Carlton Davis, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Craig Woodson also had multiple tackles against the run, as did nose tackle/fullback Khyiris Tonga.

The Falcons probably should’ve leaned on their run game more early in the game, but that’s none of the Patriots’ business. Another impressive performance from arguably the league’s best run defense.

Running Backs

Rhamondre Stevenson missed today’s game with a toe injury, thrusting TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings into the spotlight. While the Patriots’ backs averaged fewer than four yards each, and they combined for fewer than 100 yards, it was an encouraging performance for the inexperienced backs.

Henderson’s contact balance and patience continue to improve, even turning a potential tackle for loss into a positive gain. The rookie had a consecutive seven-yard gains on outside carries, but most of his damage came on tough runs inside against a vulnerable Falcons interior. Henderson also continues to develop as a blocker, where he was quiet in an expanded role.

Jennings went from a five-minute back to a true RB2 against the Falcons. The hard-nosed style that allowed him to thrive in those moments translated in today’s plan, with the second-year back consistently falling forward and picking up more yards than were blocked for him. Jennings’ efforts were rewarded early in the game, with Will Campbell and Jack Westover helping pave the way to his first NFL score.

First NFL TD for Terrell Jennings

CBS pic.twitter.com/hR5dHUQPrj

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 2, 2025

“I mean, he’s run hard,” Vrabel said of Jennings. “He’s run hard in five-minute. He’s a physical back. Those guys rotated most of the game. And TreVeyon helped us win and so did Terrell, trying to get the ball to everybody in the rotation.”

The run blocking deserves credit for opening lanes, but it was less trustworthy in the second half. The biggest lowlight was an eight-yard loss that contributed to an untimely stop in the fourth quarter.

“We had some openings I wish we would have been able to pop a few more,” Vrabel said. “But we moved them and we get on the second level and felt like it was okay. Could have been better. Really just — we get disjointed a few times. Too many seconds and longs, too many times we put ourselves in long yardage, but we converted. We were good on 3rd down, even with that. So again, the run game, and those guys will complement each other. Backs ran hard and took care of the ball, and then we had a few perimeter plays. We’ll just try to figure out what gives us the best chance each and every week to win the game.”

Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs may have run the wrong route on an early third down (also could’ve been on a missed read), but he had two of the game’s biggest catches.

Diggs made three defenders miss in the red zone to turn a short catch into an 11-yard touchdown, scoring for the second time in as many weeks.

FIGHT FOR THAT SCORE STEF

CBS pic.twitter.com/TDGaZ3Sn6f

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 2, 2025

Diggs also caught what might’ve been Drake Maye’s best throw of the day, showing plus concentration on a laser between zone defenders.

Drake to Diggs for 21 yards @DrakeMaye2 | #NEPats

CBS pic.twitter.com/qZCXLSCz4v

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 2, 2025

Diggs might not be lighting up the stat sheet with 100-yard performances every week, but he’s providing high-quality play when the ball comes his way.

Hunter Henry

Like Diggs, Hunter Henry wasn’t on the same page as his quarterback on an interception, but the veteran made crucial plays throughout today’s game.

Henry moved the chains on multiple third downs, including an impressive grab on a tightly-contested target and the catch that iced the game.

What a throw and catch on 3rd down @DrakeMaye2 | @Hunter_Henry84

CBS pic.twitter.com/18EIQTSZ0u

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 2, 2025

“Great timing by Drake, great catch by Hunter,” Vrabel said. “Getting a couple extra yards and staying inbounds, all the stuff that we practice in five-minute, and they’re believing in it and they’re buying into it because they see that that’s what good teams do to end the game.”

The Bad

Pass Protection

The Patriots allowed six sacks for a second consecutive week. Maye has been responsible for about half of these takedowns, and to his blockers’ credit, there were some beautiful pockets in this game.

Still, Mike Onwenu appeared to miss two twists today, one of which led to a strip sack, loss of possession, and eventual Falcons touchdown before halftime.

JALON x JAMES

CBS | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/G1Ioxn5NHD

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 2, 2025

Onwenu also lost one-on-one against Ruke Orhorhoro to kill a red zone possession. He wasn’t alone in his struggles, as Will Campbell and Jared Wilson were also knocked back at times, but it was an especially dissapointing performance from a highly-paid veteran.

Pass Rush

Michael Penix Jr. had far too much time to throw on most dropbacks. He held the ball for at least three seconds on each of the Falcons’ explosive completions, contain was spotty, and the middle of the pocket was wide open on the quarterback’s explosive scramble.

Milton Williams was a force in spurts, and K’Lavon Chaisson notched an early sack, but it was a below-average performance for the group overall. Christian Barmore was uncharacteristically quiet on initial viewing, and it’s clear more juice is needed in the edge rotation. New England’s blitzes also didn’t seem to get home, especially when sending defensive backs.

The tape may show that several four-man rushes stymied by extra blocking, but this wasn’t good enough for the team’s most highly-paid unit.

The Sh*t That Gets You Beat

Red Zone Defense

Tip of the cap to London for making some incredible end zone grabs, particularly his final touchdown against Carlton Davis.

Third TD on the day for Drake!

CBS | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/w4rZiATK4P

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 2, 2025

However, Marcus Jones wasn’t put in the best positions to succeed on London’s first two scores.

The Falcons’ first touchdown came on an admittedly well-designed concept that challenged Jones and Gonzalez’s inside-out coverage with motion, a stack, and switch releases.

Throw it up to Drake @DrakeLondon_

CBS | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/SelSv3zZfx

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 2, 2025

That would’ve been easier to swallow had Jones not been locked onto London against a bunch before Atlanta’s second score of the day.

Another one, @DrakeLondon_

CBS | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/sp0lh5eedL

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 2, 2025

Jones told reporters postgame that adjustments were made later in the game, which could be seen when Gonzalez followed London to the slot on a third down. But allowing better teams to go 3-4 in the red zone won’t cut it, and it’s the latest example of a common trend for the defense.

“When you’re cleaning up, need to take care of the football and be better defensively in the red zone. That’s been our issue, and they made some good plays down there, but we’ve got to be better in the red zone.”

Turnover-Worthy Plays

The good news: Drake Maye’s 259 passing yards were the most Atlanta’s allowed this season, earned a passer rating over 100 for the eight straight week, and completed multiple tight-window throws while continuing to add to the rushing total.

The bad news: Maye appeared to hold the ball too often, committed too many turnover-worthy plays, and wasn’t in-sync with his receivers on too many dropbacks.

Maye’s interception can be chalked up to a simple miscommunication that led to disaster–especially given it’s a positive staple in their offense–but he took his hand off the ball while trying to evade Walker on his strip sack, then he dropped the rock after tripping over an offensive lineman.

“Yeah, I think 21-7, we really got a chance to get some more points going into halftime, Maye explained. “Free rush there, first thing I had to do, I told our quarterback coach, just got to tuck the ball to the chest, and getting in a bad habit of trying to break tackles on these guys that I don’t have a great chance of breaking a tackle on.”

Maye also missed some open receivers and into sacks against a disciplined Falcons interior.

The Patriots did enough to win today, and Maye was a big part of that. But a franchise quarterback can’t put his team in bad positions multiple times a game. Fortunately, the young star is pretty self-aware, and he knows the best remedies to a poor performance are moving on and adding to the win column.

“Yeah, first I’ve got to play better for this team down the road,” Maye said. “I think it’s tough, it’s tough in a game where you win and you can feel in that locker room that these guys know we can play better. I think it’s a good feeling to have, but also at the same time it’s tough to win in this league, so you’ve got to enjoy it. You’ve got to enjoy it. And Hunt made a big play down on the sideline, five-minute. Shoot, we didn’t want to make the defense make another stop for us again. And there’s so much things to learn from this game, and I’m just proud of this team for — it doesn’t matter if it’s 24-23 or 3-2. Proud we got the win.”

No one’s hitting the panic button on the young quarterback, but he must protect himself and the team more consistently.

Injury Report

1. Kayshon Boutte (hamstring, did not return)
2. Christian Elliss (hip, did not return)
3. Christian Gonzalez (head, did not return but spoke post-game)

Penalty Watch

1. J.Tavai, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at NE 32.
2. C.Gonzalez, Illegal Contact, declined.
3. K.Chaisson, Illegal Use of Hands, 5 yards, enforced at ATL 15 – No Play.

The post Patriots Finish Strong in Ugly Win vs Falcons appeared first on CLNS Media.

The 27-year-old and first-year captain was set to become a free agent this offseason.

The #Patriots have agreed to terms with standout CB and All-Pro punt returner Marcus Jones, per me and @TomPelissero, with Jones getting three new years.

A big-time reward for the homegrown star. pic.twitter.com/Wpht72ZD3Y

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 28, 2025

Jones is in the midst of a career year as a cog in one of the league’s best defenses. The 5’8″, 188-lber falls short of head Mike Vrabel’s typical size threshold for slot corners, but he more than makes up for it with intelligence, tenacity, consistency, and explosiveness. He’s also been available after missing time in his first two seasons.

Jones has allowed the league’s lowest passer rating when aligned in the slot (53.8), per PFF, showing competitiveness at the catch-point reminiscent of former teammate Jonathan Jones.

Coverage highlights include Jones picking off Josh Allen in the red zone, elevating to break up a Keon Coleman fade, and working through traffic to prevent a Chris Olave score in New Orleans.

.@MarcusJonesocho jumping the route

NBC pic.twitter.com/tuFlGu4PGd

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2025

Jones has also been an impactful tackler, ranking in the top five among corners in coverage stops and run stops (7, 4th), respectively. His impact near the line of scrimmage jumps out on game days, and his role against heavier groupings has increased due to injuries at safety.

Jones is also PFF’s highest-graded punt returner (91.3) and leads the league in return average (21.6). His best performance came in Week 4 against the Panthers, where he followed up an 87-yard score with returns of 61 and 19 yards.

MARCUS JONES 88-YARD PUNT RETURN TO THE CRIB

CARvsNE on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/bjgaOBHIvT

— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025

Jones may not earn Pro Bowl nods at cornerback because he draws fewer marquee matchups, but the tape shows he’s more than deserving of recognition. Whether or not he receives those accolades, the Patriots have shown they value him as a team leader and playmaker.

The post Breaking: Marcus Jones Signed to Three-Year Extension appeared first on CLNS Media.

New England’s fifth-straight win marked the longest such active streak in the NFL, and it featured another record-setting performance from rising star Drake Maye.

.@Patriots QB @DrakeMaye2 is now tied for the seventh-longest streak of games (four) since at least the 1970 AFL/NFL merger with at least 200 passing yards and a 100.0 passer rating, while completing at least 70% of his passes.#NEPats pic.twitter.com/MRwNbBfkeW

— Patriots Communications (@PatriotsComms) October 6, 2025

Interim coordinator Zak Kuhr’s defense was mostly dominant, forcing two turnovers and holding Cleveland to just 23:48 minutes of possession.

Coordinator Josh McDaniels‘ offense was slow out of the gate, and his group ended the day going 3-11 on third downs and 2-6 in the red zone while committing three turnover-worthy plays. However, a clutch end-of-half sequence and a dominant third quarter helped propel New England to a win. McDaniels was also in his bag as he continues to add up new wrinkles and concepts based on the opponent.

Head coach Mike Vrabel pointed to the Patriots’ opportunism, improved red-zone efficiency, and explosive plays as the unit’s catalyst for the second-half surge.

“Sometimes it’s going to be like that,” he said postgame. “A lot of times in this league it’s going to be like that. We’ve had other games. You could ask me about starting fast. Again, we’ll try to continue to work on it. I’m mostly proud of the totality of the team. I know there’s so much more to improve, but we got stops in the second half, and we scored touchdowns. That’s what the difference in the game was.”

It might not have been perfect, but this win was the latest example of New England showing resilience in the face of adversity. As Vrabel pointed out, the issues must be addressed, but knowing how your team responds in those moments is valuable down the stretch, especially with the playoffs seeming more possible by the week.

With that in mind, here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Patriots’ home victory over the Browns.

The Good

Defense

The Patriots’ defense completely flipped the script after an ugly first series, holding the Browns without a touchdown until the game was well out of reach.

New England ended the game with one sack, but Milton Williams and Christian Barmore consistently terrorized the backfield. Barmore had a key pressure on the end-zone throwaway that led to a safety, marking the second straight week the defense put points on the board. New England also shut down Quinshon Judkins before the back left due to injury, making them the first team since 1950 to go the first eight games of a season without allowing an opposing running back to reach 50 yards in a game.

Robert Spillane was everywhere, ending the game with a team-high 14 total tackles, two run stuffs, and an interception that set up a quick score.

SPILL TAKE IT AWAY @14rspillane | #NEPats

FOX pic.twitter.com/EaKnHLaBHk

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 26, 2025

Spillane did miss a tackle on an explosive catch-and-run, but it was the only glaring blemish on an excellent day for the team captain.

The secondary dominated against a lackluster Browns passing game. Jaylinn Hawkins made the play of the day in his return from injury, making an incredible effort to track and intercept a deep ball.

Ball HAWKINS

FOX pic.twitter.com/jJCEJUxgL6

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 26, 2025

Marcus Jones continued his impressive 2025 campaign, breaking up on a third-down slant and a late two-point attempt. Christian Gonzalez also broke up a pair of passes, including an end-zone throw to Jerry Jeudy on fourth down, which led to a spirited discussion between the competitors. Jones, Gonzalez, and Carlton Davis were also active as tacklers.

Second Half Passing Offense

Maye entered a flow state in the third quarter after an up-and-down first half, with the quarterback going 6-6 for 82 yards and three touchdowns.

This stretch included a double-pass completion to Mack Hollins before taking a hit, a pair of short touchdown passes to capitalize on turnovers (including Stefon Diggs‘ first as a Patriot), and a deep Kayshon Boutte touchdown that followed a 28-yard scramble.

BOUTTE BOMB @DrakeMaye2 | @KayshonBoutte1

FOX pic.twitter.com/swF9gYUYS8

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 26, 2025

Maye didn’t throw much in the 4th quarter, but he flashed on a tight-window throw to Hollins before dropping a fadeaway dime to Diggs that was negated by a push-off. The second-year quarterback’s ability to not just move on from early struggles, but post perfect stat lines for extended stretches has been remarkable to watch. And unlike in recent weeks, he did it against an elite defense while taking six sacks.

If Maye wasn’t on a nationwide MVP watch before, today’s performance made him impossible to ignore.

Running Backs

TreVeyon Henderson showed his big-play potential for the first time since this preseason, running for 75 yards on just ten carries, including three explosives (10+ yards).

TreVeyon Henderson freed and looking smooth pic.twitter.com/TQ42czCpVN

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) October 26, 2025

It looks like the game is slowing down for the rookie, with Henderson showing noticeable patience to let blocks develop. He also dished out some punishment and made defenders miss after being one of the league’s least productive backs after contact.

Most of Henderson’s success came outside the tackles (particularly to the right), and the rookie said postgame that getting him the ball in space was a point of emphasis this week. Mission accomplished.

Rhamondre Stevenson managed just 34 yards on 14 carries, but he was better than the raw stats suggest. He had noticeable second efforts to pick up tough yards after running into a wall. He was also stuffed four times on a steady diet of inside runs. The tape may tell a different story, but it looked like those struggles had more to do with blocking than Stevenson’s decision-making. Henderson was also stuffed on a pair of runs.

Terrel Jennings continues to thrive as a five-minute back, turning one of his two late carries into an explosive.

The Bad

First Half Passing Offense

The passing attack looked completely out of sync for most of the 1st half.

Maye’s ball placement was off at times, Boutte had a rare drop, and receivers didn’t seem to be separating against man coverage. Will Campbell and the offense also couldn’t block Myles Garrett despite consistent chip help. Garrett ended the day with a whopping five sacks, three of which came in the first two quarters.

a history-making sack for @flash_garrett!!#CLEvsNE on FOX and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/xxivvX2I98

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 26, 2025

These issues led to a pair of field goals in the red zone, two three-and-outs, and a bad interception in which Maye was bailed out by his defense and a missed field goal.

There were positive flashes, like Maye and Boutte connecting on a devastatingly effective out-comeback against Denzel Ward. Boutte also combined with DeMario Douglas to set up a field goal before halftime, foreshadowing the third-quarter dominance to come. That said, those kinds of slow starts can become back-breakers against better competition.

Opening Drive Defense

The Patriots’ slow starts persisted this week, with the Browns’ gashing New England on what Vrabel called “gimmick plays” during their opening drive.

Marte Mapu ran into traffic for a 3rd & 11 conversion, Jones missed a key tackle on an explosive jet sweep, and Harold Fannin caught the defense sleeping for a downfield score off play action.

wide open look for the rooks!#CLEvsNE on FOX and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/mgAtR67fC8

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 26, 2025

The defense deserves immense credit for largely shutting down their opponent from that point on. Still, I’d like to write one of these without having to dock them for a lack of energy out of the gate.

Fourth Quarter Special Teams

The game may have been decided, but the Patriots had some rough special teams moments late.

Bryce Baringer shanked a punt that went just 15 yards early in the fourth quarter after a positive first three quarters. New England also failed to recover an onside kick attempt after the defense forced a safety.

More lapses that are easy to overlook in a blowout, but can make the difference in a tighter game.

The Ugly

Turnover-Worthy Plays

Maye’s interception was the kind of odd brain fart that popped up a couple of times a year on his college tape. It’s nothing to panic over, as Maye has been protected with the ball well of late, and Maye joked that he forgot linebacker Carson Schwesinger could jump, but it was his worst turnover as a pro and must be nipped in the bud.

YESSIR SUNSHINE!!!!#CLEvsNE on FOX and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/ROTbEbCqg2

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 26, 2025

Maye also fumbled on a sack during New England’s two-minute drill, but Jared Wilson fell on it to retain possession.

Henderson’s breakout performance ended on a down note after the back was stripped in the low red zone. It didn’t affect the outcome of a game, but it’s an eyebrow-raising mistake from a backfield that’s low on depth.

Injury Report

• Khyiris Tonga (knee, did not return)

Penalty Watch

1. B.Schooler, Face Mask, 15 yards, enforced at CLV 19.
2. M.Onwenu, False Start, 4 yards, enforced at NE 43 – No Play.
3. H.Henry, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at CLV 40 – No Play.
4. M.Mapu, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced at CLV 26.
5. R.Grant, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at NE 34.
6. C.Davis, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at CLV 35 – No Play.
7. S.Diggs, Offensive Pass Interference, 10 yards, enforced at CLV 36 – No Play.

The post Game Recap: Patriots Beat Up on Browns in 5th Straight Win appeared first on CLNS Media.

One week after thrashing the Titans for their third straight road win, the Patriots will play host to the Cleveland Browns, where Vrabel spent last season as an offensive assistant and personnel consultant. Head coach Kevin Stefanski’s squad is coming off a blowout win in Miami, and they’re more formidable (at least in some areas) than their 2-5 record suggests.

Coordinator Jim Schwartz has fielded one of the league’s stingiest defenses, as Cleveland is allowing the fewest yards per game and the third-fewest expected points added and passing yards.

“Well, they’re fast, they’re disruptive,” Vrabel explained on Wednesday. “They put pressure on the quarterback, and they do it through their players and their identity… They want to force you into mistakes if you give up loose plays, or guys get on the edge of somebody. You’ve got an elite edge rusher on the outside, and if you can’t step up it’s going to be hard to protect. And then the corners are going to be sticky, the linebackers all can run, safeties are very good tacklers. And that’s the thing that I’ve noticed, is that if a ball breaks, eight yards is a really long run against this team because the safeties are such good tacklers – Grant [Delpit] and Ronnie [Hickman].”

This will be a great barometer for the Patriots’ offense, which has done a 180 this season, largely thanks to Drake Maye‘s MVP-level play. Coordinator Josh McDaniels is also maximizing his offensive weapons and making life easier on his players. New England ranks eighth in points per game (25.9) and ninth in yards per play (5.7), and only the Colts (+0.25) have more expected points added per pass (+0.23). Rhamondre Stevenson and the run game also showed signs of life last week after a tough stretch.

Meanwhile, the Browns’ offense is struggling by just about every metric, even after swapping out Joe Flacco for rookie Dillon Gabriel. They’ve also been forced into the league’s 5th-highest pass rate (62.2) due to consistent deficits.

Interim coordinator Zak Kuhr’s defense has held opponents to 20 or fewer points in four straight games, and all signs point to a fifth this Sunday. However, slow starts have plagued this group all season, and though the team has shown resilience to bounce back, the defense is playing a dangerous game.

“Yeah, we just didn’t do a very good job of matching their script and their scheme plays,” Vrabel said of the defense’s early-game struggles. “We’ve got to do a better job of being ready to go with some plays that maybe they’ve seen on tape or that are new and using our fundamentals. But got beat on the script in their first plays, and we’ll have to do a better job.”

New England’s schedule is full of potential trap games, and this is the latest landmine they must navigate to maintain their playoff pace. If Vrabel and company want to prove they’re a contender despite the league’s easiest schedule, they must fast, stay competitive on offense, and dominate a talent-deprived Cleveland offense.

Here are my three keys to the Patriots checking those boxes and keep building vs the Browns.

Contain Myles Garrett and the D-Line

The Patriots’ pass blocking was uncharacteristically boom-or-bust last week.

After three games without a sack allowed, the offensive line gave up three to a defense that lost Jeffery Simmons in the 1st quarter. Left guard Jared Wilson was involved in all three takedowns, and Will Campbell allowed a big hit on a missed blitz pickup.

The #Patriots held up well vs standard 4-man rushes outside of Wilson's sack and Campbell getting walked back, but line games were an issue for the OL

Though the rookies had one beautifully executed pickup, Bradbury and Onwenu were involved in multiple lapses vs twists/slants pic.twitter.com/kSLfhKDgVT

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 20, 2025

“A lot of really good pockets and then there were some that weren’t. I don’t think there was anywhere in between yesterday,” Vrabel said on Monday. “It was either we got a lot of time and we got a clean pocket, or we got beat on a game or pressure, and that was, I guess, the story of the pass protection yesterday. It was either no pressure or pretty quick, immediate pressure, and we’ll have to improve that.”

That improvement will have to come quickly against Cleveland’s elite pass rush. PFF has the Browns ranked 18th in pressure rate through seven weeks (34.8), but they’re 3rd in pass rush win rate (60.0) and tied with the Colts for the 9th-most sacks (18).

Myles Garrett is obviously a world-beater, but Maliek Collins (#96) is having a career year at 30, and you can't sleep on Mason Graham (#94) or the Browns' other edge rushers

The #Patriots also have to improve vs line games this weekend on top of holding up 1v1 pic.twitter.com/bOBtP5DWb9

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 22, 2025

Myles Garrett continues to torment opposing fronts, ranking 3rd in PFF pass rush grade (91.9) and tying for 10th in sacks. He’ll understandably be at the front of the offense’s mind, but Garrett isn’t the only defender causing chaos up front this season.

“Their front four is exceptional, and it’s not just Myles,” McDaniels said on Thursday. “He’s one of the truly great players in the league and presents all kinds of issues—but the whole front is very disruptive… It’s as good a pass rush as we’ve seen.”

Maliek Collins has been a monstrous complement to Garrett in his first year with the Browns. The 30-year-old is one of PFF’s highest-graded pass rushers, and only Simmons has won at a higher rate among interior defensive linemen.

The Browns move linemen around the front to present different looks and create mismatches, but Garrett and Collins spend most of their time on the right side of the defense. That means the toughest test this season for the Patriots’ rookie left side of Campbell and Wilson. The entire offensive line must also keep its head on a swivel for games and the rare Cleveland blitz, both areas that need improvement after last week’s performance.

Maye can help his protection by efficiently managing the pocket, throwing on time, and using his legs when things break down. On the sidelines, McDaniels can protect both his blockers and quarterback with a balanced script, quick concepts, chip blocks, and moving pockets.

The Browns' pass defense has given up a lot of big plays to moving pockets this season, which the #Patriots will certainly test with Drake Maye

Might be a good week to sneak Mack Hollins downfield from behind the line pic.twitter.com/1bzXaLPC4x

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 22, 2025

A respectable rushing attack will also be key to avoiding the obvious pass situations that Cleveland’s front thrives in. That will be easier said than done, even with the ground game’s improved performance in Tennessee, so it may be wise to incorporate run-pass options and screens as extensions of the run game.

Shred Man Coverage

The pass rush isn’t all the Patriots’ offense will have to worry about on Sunday.

Four-time Pro Bowler Denzel Ward leads a group of competitive man-coverage corners. Cleveland leaned more toward zone last week against the speedy Dolphins, but they’re expected to play their usual brand of football this week in Foxboro.

“They play some man, they play tight coverage,” Maye said. “They’re probably one of the best cornerback duos we’ll see. When they do mix up zone, they do a good job of getting their eyes on the quarterback and making plays on the football. You saw that last week. So, we’ve got a tough challenge, and it’s going to start another game at home.”

The Browns won’t make things easy, but if receivers get time to win vertically, Maye could be in for his latest productive day downfield. The second-year passer leads the league with a 144.9 rating on throws of 10+ air yards, where Cleveland’s defense has also shown some cracks this season.

Offenses have had success going vertical vs the Browns by attacking corners not named Denzel Ward and exploiting weak spots in split-field zones

Recent trade acquisition Tyson Campbell has struggled when targeted deep this season pic.twitter.com/Wvo0oFNh6o

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 22, 2025

Ward is as sticky as they come, but his lack of play strength can be exploited. Right cornerback Tyson Campbell is a more physical player, but he’s been the league’s worst defender when targeted deep. This could put a bullseye on his back for Maye and McDaniels.

Meanwhile, Kayshon Boutte trails only Marvin Harrison Jr. (4) in contested deep catches (3), and Stefon Diggs ranks 5th in receiving yards against man coverage (186), per PFF.

Drake Maye's sideline dot to Stefon Diggs was the same "Hook" concept #Patriots ran vs the Bills, but with the WR running a different route because of the coverage

Instead of a quick out vs soft zone, Diggs converts to a fade vs press and beats the CB with late hands pic.twitter.com/5NAH4zj7bz

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 20, 2025

Diggs and DeMario Douglas could also have success after the catch, where Cleveland’s corners have been up-and-down as tacklers.

When the Browns inevitably switch from a man disguise into Cover 2 zone, Maye sounds fully prepared to hit his bread-and-butter hole shots. Maye gushed over the high-difficulty zone-beater, calling them one of his favorite throws.

“It’s one of those things when I’m starting to see Cover-2, it’s one of those, ‘Hey, let’s take advantage of it,'” Maye explained. “It’s one of the voids in the defense. Growing up, playing a lot of 7-on-7, and they say that 7-on-7 wasn’t great for football, but it’s great for quarterbacks, seeing hole shots and throwing hole shots. You’re throwing some pace on it and still getting some arcs… I think it’s becoming more and more of a thing in the league of trying to show different things and go to Cover-2. So, it’s something that I like throwing.”

Drake Maye hitting hole shots vs inverted Cover 2 on back-to-back throws

Checked a fake screen on the first, with Kayshon Boutte settling between zones and Maye getting it out before taking a hit

Good eye discipline and excellent touch to Mack Hollins on the second throw pic.twitter.com/GpxHen3zy6

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 20, 2025

The Browns’ defense will make its plays, and they truly might be the best defense New England sees this season. That said, Cleveland hasn’t seen anything like Maye and McDaniels. If the offense continues to minimize self-inflicted wounds, the Patriots could make one hell of a statement at home.

Shut Down Quinshon Judkins

The Patriots’ run defense is playing at an elite level after an inconsistent start to the season.

Despite using light boxes (six or fewer defenders) at one of the league’s highest rates, New England is the only team that hasn’t allowed a 50-yard rusher.

Offseason additions have been key to the group’s success. Robert Spillane ranks 5th among linebackers in run defense grade (87.9), Craig Woodson is tied for the 11th-most run stops among safeties (6), and Khyiris Tonga ranks 14th among qualified interior defenders in run stop rate (9.3).

Vrabel credited improved tackling and technique for the group’s success. He also acknowledged the importance of consistency and continued improvement, especially against standout rookie Quinshon Judkins.

“That’s the thing about this league, is you don’t – stats and metrics, numbers don’t mean anything,” Vrabel said. “You have to go out there and be able to prove it. And I know that they’ll have a good plan for how they want to run it. It’s a physical group of linemen, and their tight ends are blocking well. And Quinshon is rushing, running hard, physical. So, they’ve done a nice job.”

Shutting down Quinshon Judkins will be a major key for the #Patriots defense on Sunday

Judkins is a patient back with the burst, balance, and enough speed to break off big runs in CLE's gap/outside zone scheme, with most of his explosives coming to the right pic.twitter.com/TLNrDGMM7O

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) October 22, 2025

According to Next Gen Stats, the Browns are the only team in the league averaging negative yards before contact on the ground (-0.03). Despite those struggles, Judkins ranks 11th in rushing yards (467) and is tied for the 5th-most rushing touchdowns (5), thanks largely to his excellence after contact.

To keep Judkins hemmed in, the Patriots must build a wall against gap runs, set firm edges to force outside zone carries into the teeth of the defense, and swarm to minimize extra yards. By making the Browns’ ground game a non-factor, New England can put the game into Gabriel’s hands, allowing the pass rush and secondary to feast on the overmatched rookie.

The post Game Preview: How Patriots Can Keep Building vs Browns appeared first on CLNS Media.