FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel wanted to add energy to Gillette Stadium after watching his team lose two of its first three home games to start the season. He accomplished that by bringing back individual pregame introductions for the first time since 2001. It might have been exactly the boost New England needed.
Drake Maye threw three second-half touchdown passes to help the Patriots erase an early deficit and roll to their fifth straight victory, a 32-13 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
“The crib was rocking,” safety Jaylinn Hawkins said. “It was loud out there.”
Hawkins and linebacker Robert Spillane both added interceptions for New England (6-2), which has now won six straight matchups against Cleveland and 11 of the past 13 meetings since 1999.
Maye finished 18 of 24 for 282 yards and one interception. Hunter Henry, Stefon Diggs, and Kayshon Boutte all caught touchdown passes.
“It’s really cool to see a difference from last year,” Maye said of getting back to .500 at home. “It’s been a journey. They’ve been through it. The fans have been through it the last couple of years. So it’s just a credit to them.”
Despite the Patriots’ strong performance, Browns star edge rusher Myles Garrett had a standout day, finishing with a franchise-record and career-high five sacks, raising his season total to 10.
The loss extended Cleveland’s dreadful road losing streak to 12 games. The Browns (2-6) have not won away from home since Week 2 of last season against Jacksonville.
Following his first victory as an NFL starter last week, Browns rookie quarterback Dillion Gabriel was 21 of 35 for 156 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“It starts with me. We’ve got to be better,” Gabriel said.
Coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Gabriel will remain the starter for now.
“With a young quarterback, you understand that there’s going to be ups and downs,” Stefanski said.
Cleveland has struggled in Foxborough as well, having not won any of its six visits to the Patriots’ current home stadium since it opened in 2002. The Browns now face an eight-game losing skid in Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots took a 9-7 lead into halftime but had their struggles with Garrett early on. Garrett sacked Maye on a third-and-goal during the Patriots’ opening drive, forcing New England to settle for a field goal.
On the ensuing drive, Gabriel connected with Harold Fannin Jr. for an 18-yard touchdown pass, capping a six-play, 70-yard drive. The scoring drive was set up by a 31-yard run from receiver Malachi Corley.
Notably, this marked the sixth time in eight games this season that a Patriots opponent has scored on its opening drive.
In the second quarter, Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger recorded his first career interception. However, the Browns failed to capitalize as kicker Andre Szmyt missed a 47-yard field goal wide left.
New England threatened again and faced a third down at the Browns’ 7-yard line when Garrett sacked Maye a second time, forcing the Patriots to settle for another field goal.
Later in the half, Garrett sacked Maye for the third time, stripping the ball from him with a minute left in the second quarter. Fortunately for New England, left guard Jared Wilson recovered the fumble, enabling the Patriots to kick a third field goal as time expired.
### Sack Man
With his five-sack performance, Garrett became the third player in NFL history to record 10 or more sacks in eight consecutive seasons, joining Hall of Famers Reggie White (nine straight seasons from 1985-93) and John Randle (nine straight seasons from 1992-99).
This marked only the third four-sack game in Browns history; Andra Davis had four sacks in a 2003 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The three-sack first half was also the third of Garrett’s career.
### Trickery
The Patriots used a gadget play on their first drive of the third quarter to set up their first touchdown of the half. Facing a first down on the Browns’ 38-yard line, Maye pitched the ball to Rhamondre Stevenson, who threw it back to Maye. Maye then tossed a forward pass to receiver Mack Hollins for a 19-yard gain.
Three plays later, Maye connected with Henry on a 7-yard touchdown pass, extending the Patriots’ lead to 16-7.
### Injuries
**Browns:**
– CB Tyson Campbell left the field in the third quarter after taking a hit to the head and was evaluated for a concussion; he did not return.
– RB Quinshon Judkins exited the game with a shoulder injury in the third quarter and was ruled out.
– S Rayshawn Jenkins left with a groin injury.
– LB Carson Schwesinger left with an ankle issue.
**Patriots:**
– DL Khyiris Tonga left in the second half due to a knee injury and was ruled out.
### Up Next
**Browns:** Have a bye next week. They will visit the New York Jets on November 9.
**Patriots:** Host the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.
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