Mac Jones, Patriots bulldoze Browns 45-7 to win fourth straight

FOXBORO — This was the team that was promised.

An offensive bully. A defensive shapeshifter. And a rookie quarterback whose sharpest performances would elevate the Patriots to legitimate contention and whose down days could still allow them to eke out of win.

But there was no eking on Sunday. Only rookie-led domination.

The Pats bulldozed the Browns 45-7 and extended their remarkable midseason turnaround through youngsters Mac Jones and Rhamondre Stevenson. Jones fired a career-high three touchdown passes, going 19-of-23 for 198 yards, while Stevenson scored two touchdowns and rumbled to his first 100-yard game as a pro. The Patriots controlled play by thrashing Cleveland’s third-ranked run defense for 184 yards, a season best.

Defensively, they allowed 217 total yards, another season best. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was mercifully knocked out with an injury in the third quarter, finishing 11-of-21 for 73 yards, one touchdown and a pick.

The Pats (6-4) have knocked off two AFC playoff contenders over their four-game win streak and hoisted themselves back into the postseason race.

Play opened with Cleveland’s offense punishing the Patriots on its opening series, rushing for 53 yards as it cruised toward the goal line. But stonewalled on first-and-goal from the Pats’ 2-yard line, the Browns called three straight passes, including a fourth-down tryto tight end Austin Hooper over Adrian Phillips. The Patriots answered with a run-heavy march of their own also capped by a touchdown pass to a tight end.

Facing second-and-goal from Cleveland’s 3, Jones took the snap, then one step to his right and lofted a perfect ball to Hunter Henry in the corner for a 3-yard score.

Three plays into the next series, the Pats laid a perfect trap for Mayfield and baited him into an interception. Seeing a man-to-man defense pre-snap, Mayfield dropped back and ripped a sideline throw for David Njoku running an out route. Instead, second-year safety Kyle Dugger, patrolling in short zone, snatched the pass and raced back to the Browns’ 5-yard line.

Wasting no time, Stevenson took a pitch left on the very next snap and hit pay dirt for a 14-7 lead. Cleveland punted on its next possession, and not even a full field could keep the Patriots from finding the end zone. Jones and Co. covered 99 yards, the last 23 on a strike down the seam to Kendrick Bourne, who high-pointed Jones’ pass between two defenders for a spectacular.

Thanks to two fumbles, the Browns’ final first-half series yielded minus-13 yards and sandwiched a field goal from the Patriots. Nick Folk banged a 38-yarder for a 24-7 lead at the break.

The Pats offense finally showed signs of imperfection to start the second half, sputtering quickly over a three-and-out. But Cleveland couldn’t manage much better, moving the chains once before punting again. Big mistake.

Stevenson scored his second touchdown on the next drive, the Patriots forced back-to-back turnovers on downs and followed with two more scores: touchdown passes to Hunter Henry and Jakobi Meyers, the first of Meyers’ young career.

Here were the best and worst Patriot performances from Sunday:

Best

QB Mac Jones Remember when he hit a rookie wall? Or the league supposedly figured him out? Ha.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson The fourth-round rookie rumbled for a career high in rushing yards and scored two touchdowns despite missing every practice this week.

Pass rush The Pats knocked Mayfield out of the game in the third quarter and finished with four sacks.

WR Kendrick Bourne In a game chock full of highlights, Bourne’s touchdown catch between two defenders might top them all. He racked up 141 yards between rushing and receiving.

Worst

None

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3Hjx2Fh