Can the Patriots extend their win streak to five? Follow live updates as they take on the Browns.
Myles Garrett forces Patriots to settle for a field goal — 1:11 p.m.
A solid start from the Patriots offense, which puts points on the board on the opening drive on a 36-yard field goal from Andy Borregales. New England was humming on the way to the red zone with rushes of 12 yards from TreVeyon Henderson and 16 from Drake Maye, but the Patriots fizzled out after reaching the Cleveland 4-yard line and were forced to settle for a field goal after a third-down sack for Myles Garrett. New England leads, 3-0, midway through the first quarter. — Amin Touri
Patriots offense will get things going — 1:00 p.m.
The Browns win the toss and defer to the second half. The Patriots offense will get things started.
Lawrence Guy rings the lighthouse bell — 12:50 p.m.
Lawrence Guy is the keeper of the light, ringing the bell on the top of the lighthouse to get things started at Gillette.
Guy signed a one-day contract earlier this week to retire as a Patriot.
Is Keion White’s time with the Patriots nearing its end? — 12:35 p.m.
You never say never, but I believe we are at a point with Keion White where the Patriots are ready to move on. He’s a healthy scratch today, but the defensive end has had issues staying on the field this year because of health.
White, who was thrilled when New England made the change from Jerod Mayo to Mike Vrabel, hasn’t clicked with the new coaching staff/scheme this year. It remains to be seen what New England might get in return for White, but I have to imagine there will be plenty of calls between now and the deadline when it comes to a possible return for him. — Christopher Price
Our final score predictions — 12:30 p.m.
Here’s how the Globe writers and columnists think things will go.
Dan Shaughnessy: Patriots 28, Browns 3. That’s five in a row. Atlanta next week at home.
Christopher Price: Patriots 21, Browns 7. New England gets one offensive touchdown, one defensive touchdown (at the expense of rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel), and a special teams touchdown against a Cleveland special teams unit that is one of the worst in the league.
Nicole Yang: Patriots 24, Browns 10.
The Globe reporters’ players to watch — 11:45 a.m.
Here’s who the Globe’s Patriots writers and columnists are keeping an eye on.
Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson. Mike Vrabel had Titans secrets that helped last week, so I’m figuring he has Browns secrets (Vrabel worked for the Browns last year) to help the Patriots running game today. No. More. Fumbles. — Dan Shaughnessy
Drake Maye. Maye hasn’t committed a turnover in four straight games. If he extends that streak to five, then that’ll be the first time since 2012 a Patriots quarterback has done so. — Nicole Yang
Will Campbell. The rookie left tackle will likely be tasked with slowing Myles Garrett for the bulk of the afternoon. He’ll get some help from the tight ends, as well as Josh McDaniels’s offensive game plan — which figures to lean heavily on misdirection, play-fakes, and reverses in hopes of using that aggression against Garrett and the rest of the Cleveland defensive front. But if Campbell manages to keep Maye clean, it’ll go a long way toward a New England victory. — Christopher Price
Browns
Bailey Zappe. I wanted it to be backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders, no. 12 in your program. Sooner or later, this insufferable, overrated fifth-round pick is going to get some NFL action. But he’s inactive, so today is not that day. — Dan Shaughnessy
Quinshon Judkins. The Patriots haven’t allowed an opposing rusher to eclipse 50 yards this season. Judkins has been a force for Cleveland’s offense, averaging 77.8 yards per game. If New England’s run defense is able to contain him, the Browns could have trouble moving the ball. — Nicole Yang
Grant Delpit. Garrett is an overwhelming defensive presence up front, but Delpit is the guy who handles the back end with aplomb. Maye said this week that the Browns’ secondary does an excellent job disguising its coverage, and Delpit is as good as anyone when it comes to changing up looks. If Maye is going to keep up his heater, he’s going to have to figure out a way to beat Delpit. — Christopher Price
Who’s inactive for the Patriots? — 11:35 a.m.
Kyle Dugger, who popped up on the injury report Thursday with a knee injury, is inactive Sunday. Also inactive for the Patriots: LB Caleb Murphy, DL Eric Gregory, OL Caedan Wallace, WR Efton Chism, and DE Keion White. Tommy DeVito is the emergency third quarterback.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has protected himself better this season — 11:15 a.m.
By Christopher Price
Even though Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has improved his decision making this season — specifically sliding vs. trying to gain an extra yard or two during a scramble — there’s still some trepidation when he chooses to take off.
Maye, who ran himself into some big hits last year as a rookie, has shown a knack for knowing when the journey is done for much of the first seven games this season. However, there are still moments that spark concern, such as when he was popped at the end of a scramble against the Titans last Sunday that led to him spending a few plays in the medical tent.
Inside Drake Maye’s second-year leap — 11:00 a.m.
By Julian Benbow
In nearly every measurable way, Drake Maye is having as good a sophomore season as anyone could have imagined.
In the past, other quarterbacks made huge second-season leaps.
Nick Foles, for instance, went from a backup who threw nearly as many interceptions as touchdown passes as a rookie with the Eagles in 2012 to a Pro Bowler who racked up 2,891 passing yards and 27 touchdowns against just two picks his second year. His passer rating jumped from 79.1 as a rookie to 119.2 the next year.
Through seven games, Maye leads the league in completion percentage (75.2), he’s top 10 in completions (152, tied for ninth), yards (1,744, eighth), and touchdowns (12, tied for eighth). His leap in terms of passer rating (from 88.1 a year ago to a league-high 116.4 this season) is the second-largest leap a quarterback has made since 2000.
Four things to watch for when the Patriots host the Browns — 10:45 a.m.
By Nicole Yang
The Patriots return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday for the first time since Week 4.
Here are four things to watch for in their game against Cleveland . . .
1. Can the Patriots stop rookie running back Quinshon Judkins?
Judkins is averaging 77.8 rushing yards per game, while the Patriots have yet to let an opposing running back eclipse 50 yards in a game. Judkins has also registered a league-high four runs of at least 30 yards this season, while the Patriots have yet to surrender such a play.
The battle between Judkins and New England’s stout, top-rated run defense could be one of the deciding factors on Sunday. Cleveland’s offense ranks last in the league in explosive passing plays (12). The unit relies on the run game, namely Judkins, to move the ball and open up other opportunities for rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Emma Healy can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @ByEmmaHealy. Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com. Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social. Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang.
