The Cleveland Browns will have a chance to stack wins this coming weekend for the first time since the 2023 season. After beating the Miami Dolphins at home by a score of 31-6, the Browns will travel to face the New England Patriots in Week 8, looking for their third win of the season.
New England enters at 5-2 and is off to a great start under head coach Mike Vrabel. Heading into this matchup, the Browns are facing a coach who is very familiar with their organization. Even though there are many new faces on Cleveland’s roster compared to last season, Vrabel was around the team in 2023 as a consultant to the head coach.
Mike Vrabel gets real about where the Browns stand out
“Yeah, I mean, just statistically and play style, they’re playing at a high level,” Vrabel said when asked if the Browns’ defense is the best they’ve faced so far. “There’s quite a lot of confidence. It’s a lot of speed, a lot of disruption. They don’t give you a lot of time to make decisions, and then there’s enough change-ups in there. You just have to be good, you have to be sound, and you can’t hold onto the ball.”
Mike Vrabel arrives, gives @kguregian a little ribbing, and then says the Browns’ defense is the toughest the Patriots have seen to date — which the stats reflect. pic.twitter.com/jgaODlFTHI
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 22, 2025
Cleveland goes as its defense goes, and it’s the defensive front in particular that dictates the game. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme starts up front, led by Myles Garrett, and the Browns are allowing just 274 yards per game — the best mark in the NFL. They’ve been especially strong against the pass, giving up only 174 passing yards per game, and they’ll need to stay sharp in that area against Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
Vrabel worked closely with the tight ends and current Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees last season, so he’s very familiar with what Cleveland likes to do on both sides of the ball. Still, this is a different Browns team with key new additions such as linebacker Carson Schwesinger, defensive tackles Mason Graham and Maliek Collins, and cornerback Tyson Campbell.
Cleveland has its work cut out for it in Week 8, and the best path to victory will be forcing Maye into mistakes — something he’s avoided so far, throwing just two interceptions this season. The Browns remain a work in progress offensively, so any spark from the defense will be huge, just as it was in the win over Miami. With a bye week following the Patriots matchup, this game presents a big opportunity for the Browns to build momentum heading into the second half of the season.
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