Fansided

5 bold predictions for the Patriots against the Browns

By Jarrett Bailey

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 07: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots calls a play at the line against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 7, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 07: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots calls a play at the line against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 7, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OHIO – NOVEMBER 07: Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns looks on in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 07, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – NOVEMBER 07: Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns looks on in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 07, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

The Browns will run the ball a ton

The most interesting matchup of this game will be the Patriots front seven against the run game of the Browns. Nick Chubb is phenomenal, and a large reason why the Browns have the second best rushing offense in the NFL. The Patriots defense ranks 15th against the run, and that is what the Browns will look to attack.

Cleveland had their best game of the season against the Bengals because they didn’t ask Baker Mayfield to win the game. Chubb ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns, while Mayfield was only asked to throw the ball 21 times.

The key for the Patriots is to slow down Chubb and make Mayfield beat them over the top. It’s been proven time and again that Cleveland struggles when they rely on the passing game too much. The Patriots secondary has been great this year, and Jackson is coming off a week in which he had two more interceptions.

If the game comes down to the Browns needing to work the two-minute drill, that plays into the hands of Bill Belichick’s defense. The last thing the Browns want is Mayfield needing to make multiple big throws to win.

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