After seven weeks of the NFL season, everyone is saying the New England Patriots are back. They have one of the best records in the NFL at 5-2, and they are also passing the eye test with their play on the field. Now, New England will host the 2-5 Cleveland Browns on Sunday and is expected to pick up its sixth win of the season.
However, Cleveland, despite its record, shouldn’t be overlooked. The Browns have an elite defense that keeps them in every game, and on the other side of the ball, the game will feature a weakness-vs-weakness matchup. Cleveland’s offense likes to run the ball, but the Patriots have a very good run defense.
If New England gets the better of that battle, the game could come down to how well the teams perform in their weakest aspects: Cleveland’s passing offense and New England’s passing defense.
Patriots’ secondary may be asked to show up against Browns
It's no secret how Cleveland wants to play; it wants to lean on its rushing attack. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins ran for 84 yards and three touchdowns in Week 7, carrying the Browns to a win. However, that was against the Miami Dolphins, who have the league's worst rushing defense. Cleveland will be playing a much better unit on Sunday.
The Patriots are only allowing 77.1 rushing yards per game, the third-lowest mark in the NFL. It’s safe to assume New England will load the box, stop the run, and put the ball in the hands of Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel hasn’t had much success in his three games as a starter, so forcing him to drop back seems like a recipe for success for the Patriots.
Unfortunately, New England’s pass defense hasn’t been that great this season. The Patriots are allowing 235.7 passing yards per game (24th) and 8.0 yards per attempt (30th). That means they could end up being the unit Gabriel finds his groove against, and that would be a bad look. More importantly, it could also cost the Patriots the game.
This is the week the secondary has to show up and take advantage of a struggling opponent. If anything other than that happens, New England’s passing defense will be a problem that can no longer be ignored.