The Browns will close out their first half of the season in Week 8 as they travel to face the Patriots. New England sits at first in the AFC East with a 5-2 record and has won its last four games.
"Going on the road, facing a very good football team," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Young quarterback that is playing really, really well. Multiple weapons in the run, in the pass game. […] That defense is really tough. Physical, really good front, excellent players in the back end, can do multiple things, very versatile. And then special teams wise, it's a huge challenge. Some really good returners, good core players. So, it's one of these games where all three phases have to be on point."
Here are three burning questions heading into Week 8.
How will the Browns contain QB Drake Maye?
The Browns' defense will face another dynamic quarterback in second-year player Drake Maye, who can not only throw the ball deep and accurately, but also scramble and use his legs to his advantage.
"(Drake) Maye is doing a good job, and you're seeing some similar things in the way that they ran things," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "So, a lot of checks, a lot of ways to keep them out of bad plays. They're big into trying to stay out of bad plays. A lot of complementary things that look like one thing, they give you something else. Good counter punch offense, and we'll have our work cut out for us."
Through seven games, Maye has completed 152 of 202 passing attempts for 1,744 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. He has also totaled 44 carries for 200 yards and two touchdowns. He has 29 scrambles this season and is averaging 6.7 yards per scramble attempt. However, Maye has also been pressured 59 times this season, including 15 quarterback hits and 22 sacks.
The Browns have been able to apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks this season, with 18 sacks, 36 quarterback hits and 50 pressures in the first seven weeks of the season. In order to also combat the deep threat, the Browns' secondary will apply coverage of the Patriots' receivers and limit success in the run game.
"Makes sure that you're good in the back end, obviously in coverage, and then you have to be great in your rush lanes as well, because he's a threat to throw and he's a threat to run," Stefanski said.
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 8 matchup against the New England Patriots.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
A cleat during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) and Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) and Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) and Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerback Dee Williams (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Offensive guard LaDarius Henderson (67) and Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Offensive guard Teven Jenkins (74) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerback Dee Williams (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Kicker Andre Szmyt (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Tight end Sal Cannella (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 22, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2025.
How will the Browns combat a stout Patriots' run defense?
The Browns will face the third-best run defense in the league when they face the Patriots, a stout defense that limits explosive plays and is only allowing an average of 77.1 rushing yards per game. Opposing offenses are averaging 3.44 yards per rush, which is the third lowest in the NFL this season. And the Patriots have not allowed a 50-yard rusher this season.
"Their secondary tackles well, they do a great job up front with movement and creating some penetrators, canceling gaps and they're fundamentally sound," offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said. "They're not very often in a disadvantaged point of defense. So, all of our guys got to buy into the run game."
The Browns have relied on the use of their run game and RB Quinshon Judkins to anchor their offense. Judkins is averaging 4.3 yards per carry this season and leads the Browns with a total of 109 carries for 467 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Judkins also has four plays of 20 or more yards this season.
In order for the Browns to continue their use of the run game, the offensive line must block and help create rushing lanes, while their tight ends and receivers protect and Judkins, Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford stay true to their reads.
"It takes all 11 to be successful there," Rees said. "We have got to continue to find ways to be good in that area of the field and find ways to be explosive because they've limited that. Like you look at no 50-yard rushers, a lot of that has been limiting explosive runs. I think they only have two or three plus 10-yard runs throughout the season. Some of those are scrambles, they're not even designed runs. So, as you look at it, it's a group effort. They do a good job of being structurally sound and making sure that they have gap integrity, and then their secondary tackles well to get guys on the ground to limit those."
How will the Browns limit Patriots' tight ends in Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper?
For Schwartz, one of the major points of emphasis in the Patriots' offense is their use of the tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper. They are added threats in the pass game as pass catchers for Maye and execute their blocks in the run game.
This season, Henry has the second-most receptions for the Patriots with 24 catches for 310 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Henry's longest reception this season is for 31 yards and has made four plays over 20-plus receiving yards. Hooper has recorded 10 receptions for 116 receiving yards and one touchdown, with his longest catch for 24 yards. Hooper has also added two chunk plays of 20-plus receiving yards.
"Both (Austin) Hooper and Hunter Henry are playing really well for them, both in the run game and in the passing game, so that's probably a big thing," Schwartz said. "Just scheme specific, or opponent specific game plans. They do a good job of scheming up things that maybe are not advantageous to you, they do a good job putting their guys in position."
In a Patriots' offense that likes to utilize the deep ball, the Browns will have to defend multiple pass catchers, with Henry as the second-most targeted among the pass catchers.
"They do a great job with their tight ends," Stefanski said. "Hunter Henry's outstanding, a couple guys here have played with him and can talk about his skill set, and he's a really impressive player. Obviously, we know Hoop really well. Very versatile, good in the run game, good in the pass game. So, it allows them to deploy those guys in a variety of ways, whether they're in line, they're blocking or they're opened up, they can do a bunch of different things."
