FOXBOROUGH – The Browns, with the NFL’s top-ranked defense headed by All-World pass rusher Myles Garrett, posed the toughest challenge for Drake Maye and the Patriots offense to date.
Maye certainly didn’t play up to the outrageously good level he was playing the previous four games.
But he was close enough.
There were a few hiccups (pick, fumble) along the ride, but Maye just kept rolling, eventually picking apart the Browns defense with his arms, and his legs en route to another victory.
As good as Cleveland’s defense might be, the Browns still didn’t have all the answers when it came to Maye.
Fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” after a 28-yard scamper by the Patriots quarterback set up a third quarter score.
Maye threw three touchdown passes in the 32-13 win, as the AFC-East leading Patriots have now won five straight to improve to 6-2.
After a sack-riddled first half, with Garrett having his way with Will Campbell or whoever he lined up against, Maye and the Patriots took control with a 7-play, 77 yards touchdown drive on their first possession of the third quarter.
Maye hit Hunter Henry with a 7-yard touchdown pass to culiminate the drive, which was highlighted by a trick play double-pass. Maye first tossed a pass to Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots running back threw it back to Maye, who then hit Mack Hollins down the sideline for a 19-yard gain.
A Robert Spillane interception set up the next score, a one-yard pass from Maye to Stefon Diggs, and a close game turned into another comfortable win.
While Diggs has been the team’s leading receiver, it marked his first TD catch from Maye.
The Patriots quarterback added a 39-yard strike to Kayshon Boutte and the game was well in hand.
So after a slow opening, Maye and the offense took care of business.
Maye finished 18 for 24 for 282 yards with three TDs and a pick.
Garrett (5 sacks) may have dominated Campbell and the offensive line. In the end, it didn’t matter.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels reached into his bag of tricks, utilized the run game with Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson effectively, while Maye did the rest, hitting seven different receivers along the ride.
The first half, though, wasn’t pretty.
The Browns got to Maye, sacking him four times. Garrett dropped him twice, and forced a fumble.
Maye’s four-game streak without a turnover came to an end. Along with the strip-sack fumble, which the Patriots recovered, Maye threw a second-quarter pick.
It was one of the worst throws the Patriots second-year quarterback has made in quite some time.
The Browns, however, failed to convert.
Maye had been playing the position as good, if not better, than any quarterback in the league.
Heading into the game, he was completing a whopping 67 percent of his passes targeted 10 yards or more down the field. He had completed a franchise record 91.3 percent of his passes in last week’s win over the Tennessee Titans.
It’s tough to keep up that kind of sizzling play. The Browns pass rush had a significant impact, but Maye also used his legs (4 rushes, 53 yards) to help the cause.
Thanks to Maye scrambling and connecting with DeMario Douglas for a 44-yard completion, the Patriots kicked a field goal right before the half, to take a 9-7 lead.
Maye went 10-for-16 for 168 yards with the interception and fumble in the opening half.
According to ESPN, Garrett had six quarterback pressures alone in the first half.
His efforts still couldn’t derail Maye, who was money in the second half.
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