The Browns closed out the first portion of the season with a 32-13 loss to the Patriots and drop to 2-6 through the first eight weeks of the season.
"Frustrated, but we'll win as a team and we'll lose as a team," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "We'll look at everything in this bye week and figure out a way to get this thing going with more than half our season left. That's what we're going to use this bye week to really look at everything we are doing because the results have to be better."
Here are three big takeaways from the Browns 32-13 loss against the Patriots.
Offense struggles to find rhythm and sustain drives
On their opening offensive drive, QB Dillon Gabriel moved the Browns down field, utilizing the both the run and pass game throughout the drive. He connected with TE Harold Fannin Jr. for a 19-yard completion, while WR Malachi Corley took off for a 31-yard rush and RB Quinshon Judkins with two short yard gains. Gabriel then found Fannin for the 18-yard reception in the end zone.
However, following the touchdown, the Browns struggled to develop an offensive rhythm. The Patriots' run defense – which had given up the third-fewest rushing yards allowed per game heading into Week 8 – bottled up Judkins and the run game. Judkins finished the game with nine carries for 19 rushing yards before a shoulder injury in the third quarter, and the Browns totaled 68 net rushing yards.
"We were explosive in that first drive, and want to continue to create that," Gabriel said. "But sustaining, third downs is where we need to be better at, and it starts with me for sure."
The Browns were not able to convert on nine of their 11 third-down attempts throughout the game and totaled just 12 first downs. They also turned the ball over on downs twice in the fourth quarter.
"We have to find a way to stay on the football field, stay out of 3rd down. If we are in 3rd down, we have to convert," Stefanski said.
As they went down three touchdowns in the third quarter, the Browns tried to use the pass game to move the ball downfield. However, New England limited Gabriel's ability to consistently connect with his pass catchers, as Gabriel completed 21 of 35 passing attempts for 156 yards and two interceptions – his first two interceptions this season.
"He' been protecting the ball, 100 percent ball security so far," G Wyatt Teller said. "A couple balls got away from him and that stinks because I don't know many guys, young guys, or old guys, that work as hard as him."
Gabriel and the Browns put together one late scoring drive in the fourth quarter. In three plays, which included a 4-yard run by RB Dylan Sampson, an 11-yard completion to Sampson and then an 11-yard completion to TE David Njoku in the end zone – the Browns added their second touchdown of the day. However, that successful drive was not enough to close the gap for the Browns to overcome the deficit they were in.
Browse action photos from the Browns' 2025 Week 8 game against the New England Patriots, featuring top plays and moments.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30), Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96), and Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) and Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) and Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) and Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
The offense during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30), Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33), Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49), and Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5),Safety Grant Delpit (9),Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49), Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33), Cornerback Myles Harden (26), and Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) and Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) and Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) and Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
`Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Dom Jones (37) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Dom Jones (37) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95), Defensive end Sam Kamara (92), and Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
The defense during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
The offense during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Offensive tackle Cam Robinson (68) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) and Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots on October 26, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
Myles Garrett sets NFL record and breaks career-high in single-game sacks
Amidst the offensive struggles, DE Myles Garrett made his presence known defensively from the Patriots' opening drive all the way through the fourth quarter.
On the Patriots' first offensive drive of the game, Garrett sacked QB Drake Maye for a loss of 10 yards – a sack that set an NFL record for the most sacks by a player under the age of 30. At the time, he broke the record with 108.5 sacks, surpassing Reggie White's 108 sacks.
Garrett continued to apply ample pressure on the Patriots and Maye, recording five sacks. Garrett set a Browns single-game record with five sacks, while adding one forced fumble and six total tackles. He also recorded five quarterback hits and five tackles for a loss.
"They gave me more one-on-ones than some other teams," Garrett said. "I think we also created that by moving me around and putting me in different positions, trying to just be unpredictable with my location on the field. And it worked out. They were still different kinds of looks that they gave us, different kinds of chips and all that, but found a way to get free and make plays for the team."
Garrett leads the Browns with 10.0 sacks this season and joined White (1995-85) and John Randle (1992-99) as the only players in NFL history to record at least 10 sacks in eight consecutive seasons.
While the attention Garrett continues to garner from opposing offenses and their game plan to try and minimize his effectiveness, it opens up other opportunities for other defensive linemen to impact the game. DE Alex Wright added another sack on Maye in the second quarter for a loss of four yards, and both Wright and DT Maliek Collins each added a quarterback hit.
Maye finished the game with taking six sacks for a loss of 37 yards. He completed 18 of 24 passing attempts for three touchdowns and threw one interception.
Browns rookies play their roles
Through the first eight weeks of the season, the Browns have relied on a number of players from their rookie class in starting roles. Sunday's game against the Patriots was no different, with players on both sides of the ball finding ways to positively impact the game.
LB Carson Schwesinger picked off Maye in the second quarter for his first interception of the season and returned the interception for seven yards. He also recorded five tackles, bringing his season total to a team-high 60 tackles.
Fannin caught his second touchdown pass of the season in the first quarter and led the Browns with six receptions for 62 yards. Fannin also leads the team with 38 receptions, the most ever by a Browns' rookie through the first eight games of the season.
Even as Gabriel battled through the offensive struggles and connecting with his pass catchers, he continued to try and lead the offense down the field in his fourth game as the starting quarterback.
"I see a young quarterback who is fighting," Garrett said. "I see a young team that is fighting all across the board. So, we all got to help each other."
