CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns might be going into Week 8 with a losing record of 2-5, but their defense has once again put the NFL on notice.
That includes quarterback Drake Maye of the New England Patriots (5-2), the top dog of the AFC East who Cleveland’s defense is plotting to stop come Sunday.
On Wednesday, Maye was asked about Cleveland’s star edge rusher and former DPOY, Myles Garrett, and had nothing but praise for him.
“(Garrett’s) one of the best players in the league, and he’s somebody you got to know where he’s at,” Maye said. “(Garrett) plays hard, he’s disruptive, he’s good in the run game and the pass game, it’s going to be a tough challenge.”
Last season, Garrett became the first player to accumulate 14.0 or more sacks in four straight seasons since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
Garrett only has 5.0 sacks so far this 2025 season, though, still good enough to tie for 10th in the NFL.
Garrett also leads all qualifying edge rushers in run-defensive grading (88.3) and ranks third in overall defensive-grading (91.6), per Pro Football Focus.
When asked about how he can avoid a player of Garrett’s caliber, he mentioned being smart and quick.
“Just be cognizant of the point of the play, being good in the quick game,” Maye said. “We talk about outlets, scramble and throwaways, and just being smart with the football and just going out (to) the next play.”
Then again, Maye had praise for the Browns unit as a whole.
Cleveland’s defense ranks third in passing yards allowed (173.7), fourth in rushing yards allowed (82.4), tied for 13th in points allowed (21.7), and has eight takeaways to its name.
Maye also complimented the cornerback duo of four-time Pro Bowler Denzel Ward, and the newly acquired Tyson Campbell, who recorded his first pick-six in the Week 7 win over Miami.
“They’re probably one of the best cornerback duos we’ll see,” Maye said. “They do mix-up zone, they do a good job of getting their eyes on the quarterback and making the plays on the football.”
Maye has been no slouch either in his second year.
He enters Week 8 leading all quarterbacks in completion percentage (75.2%), while ranking eighth in passing yards (1,744), and tying for eighth in touchdowns (12).
New England has the entire AFC North division on their schedule, a division that features three of the NFL’s edge rushers: Garrett of Cleveland, T.J. Watt of Pittsburgh, and Trey Hendrickson of Cincinnati.
They’ve only played Pittsburgh so far, who gave them one of their two losses in Week 3. A game where Maye was sacked twice by Watt.
Cleveland is also looking to end a five-game skid versus New England, having last defeated them in Week 9 of the 2010 season.
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