New England Patriots vs Cleveland Browns NFL Preview: Team news, betting, tickets, live stream, Fantasy Football and more

The Cleveland Browns travel to Gillette Stadium on Sunday to take on the New England Patriots.

Cleveland comes off a dominant 31-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins, with Quinshon Judkins powering the ground game with 84 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The Browns’ defense was a major factor, forcing six fumbles and snagging three interceptions, showcasing a knack for creating turnovers.

However, they struggled in an earlier matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, falling 23-9. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel passed for 221 yards but failed to find the end zone, while the defense did a solid job limiting Pittsburgh to just 19 first downs.

New England has been in strong form, cruising to a 31-13 win over the Tennessee Titans. Quarterback Drake Maye threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns, and the Patriots’ defense stifled the run, holding Tennessee to just 39 rushing yards while forcing a fumble.

New England Patriots vs Cleveland Browns kick-off time

NFL

Gillette Stadium

The Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots play on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts in a game on the NFL Week 8 schedule, with kick-off slated for 1:00 pm ET.

Team news & squads

New England Patriots team news

Following a six-yard scramble early in the third quarter, Drake Maye took an awkward fall and banged his head against the Nissan Stadium turf. He stayed down for a moment before getting to his feet, seemingly without any lingering effects, but was still pulled from the game by the league's independent concussion spotters. After a quick evaluation in the blue tent, the 23-year-old reemerged and was back under center after missing just three snaps. Maye played into the fourth quarter before being pulled once the game was out of hand.

All signs point to him being good to go this week, ready to once again lead the Patriots' offense. Maye has quietly been one of the league’s most consistent young quarterbacks, topping 200 passing yards in every outing and surpassing 250 in four of them. He's been especially sharp on the road lately, piling up 756 yards and five touchdowns without a single pick in tough environments like Buffalo, New Orleans, and Tennessee.

That said, Maye is about to face one of his stiffest tests yet. Cleveland's defensive front is as ferocious as they come, relentless, disciplined, and downright nasty at the line of scrimmage. Running lanes against this group are basically non-existent, so the Patriots’ young signal-caller will need to rely on quick reads, sharp timing, and precise execution to stay upright and keep the offense moving.

On the defensive side, there’s a bit of good news: safety Jaylinn Hawkins, who’s missed the last two contests with a hamstring issue, looks close to returning. His presence would further bolster a secondary that’s already loaded with playmakers.

The Patriots should enter this matchup with confidence — the kind that comes from knowing they’re the better team across the board. Expect Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and Marcus Jones to have a field day against Dillon Gabriel, who’s still adjusting to NFL speed. Don’t be surprised if one of them makes him pay for a late throw and forces his first career interception.

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Cleveland Browns team news

It's hardly a surprise that the Cleveland Browns are sitting at 2-5 after seven weeks, it's about where most expected them to be. Sure, the defensive front remains a legitimate strength, and Denzel Ward continues to prove he’s one of the elite cornerbacks in the game. But offensively? This unit has been a train wreck.

When Kevin Stefanski learned that Deshaun Watson would miss the season, he was left with four uninspiring choices under center: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders. The two rookies, Gabriel and Sanders, came in as mid-round draft picks — third and fifth rounds respectively — while the veterans didn’t stick around long. Pickett was shipped off before Week 1, and Flacco was later dealt to the Bengals.

That left Dillon Gabriel, the former Oregon Duck, as the starter heading into October’s matchup with Minnesota. In two starts, Gabriel has thrown for 411 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but his 57.3% completion rate tells the real story. Against the Steelers, he was scattershot, completing just 29 of 52 attempts as the Browns managed a pitiful nine points in another AFC North slog. The run game was equally underwhelming, with Quinshon Judkins averaging a meager three yards per carry on 12 attempts while Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson combined for just 29 more.

And if the box score didn't scream trouble, the film certainly did. This offense looks lost — no rhythm, no creativity, and no spark. The passing attack isn't exactly brimming with star power either. David Njoku and Harold Fannin handle tight end duties, with Fannin surprisingly leading the team in receptions and yards. Jerry Jeudy is the de facto WR1, while undrafted rookie Isaiah Bond has emerged as the second option. Behind them, second-year receivers Jamari Thrash and Malachi Corley round out a group that’s done little to inspire confidence.

Simply put, this offense is lifeless. The Browns are dead last in the league at 13.7 points per game, and their rankings in both passing (26th) and rushing (28th) only confirm what the eye test already shows — this is a unit running on fumes.

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Watch and live stream Patriots vs Browns in the USA

The Patriots vs Browns game in Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live nationally on FOX. Fans can catch the coverage onFubo (Try for free today!).

More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.

Watch and live stream Patriots vs Browns worldwide

For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.

To bypass regional restrictions or to access the game if you are travelling abroad, you can watch the action using a Virtual Private Network like ExpressVPN.

How to buy Patriots vs Browns tickets

The showdown between the Patriots and the Browns is set for Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, a venue that packs in up to 65,878 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.

Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.

Check the link below for the full breakdown of how to purchase tickets to NFL games.

READ MORE: NFL 2025 Tickets: Prices, deals, season tickets & membership information

Patriots vs Browns Fantasy Football

Drake Maye (projected 20.3 fantasy points for Week 8) just keeps stacking up impressive performances. On Sunday, the rookie sensation was razor-sharp, connecting on 21 of 23 passes for 222 yards (a sizzling 9.7 yards per attempt) and a pair of touchdowns. As if that wasn’t enough, he added another 62 yards on the ground, marking his fifth top-10 fantasy finish in his last six outings. At this point, it’s tough to justify streaming anyone else over Maye, even in a week riddled with byes.

That said, this upcoming matchup is easily his stiffest challenge yet. Don’t be surprised if his fantasy ceiling dips a bit against a defense capable of putting the clamps on him.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson remains the unquestioned lead back in New England, but Week 8 won’t be a walk in the park. He draws a daunting Cleveland defense that’s been a brick wall against the run, surrendering the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing backs and only three touchdowns all year. Stevenson did post 90 scrimmage yards and a score against a soft Titans front last week, but that came after a four-game stretch where he averaged just 35.5 yards per game — hardly inspiring numbers heading into this matchup.

WR Stefon Diggs (projected 8.0 fantasy points for Week 8) delivered a much-needed rebound on Sunday, shaking off last week’s quiet outing where he saw just three targets. The veteran wideout once again looked in sync with Maye, reminding everyone that their chemistry is no fluke. With that connection humming, Diggs remains a trustworthy play heading into his Week 8 showdown against the Browns — even with Cleveland’s defense looming large.

Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel (projected 13 fantasy points) barely had to break a sweat in Sunday’s rout of Miami, going 13-of-18 for 116 yards in a game that never required him to air it out. Cleveland dialed back its passing game by 12% compared to expectations, including a massive 15% dip on first downs — a byproduct of rainy conditions and a Dolphins team that never pushed the pace. Through three starts, Gabriel has logged finishes of QB18, QB25, and QB25, which firmly places him in QB2 territory for fantasy purposes.

As for RB Quinshon Judkins, he was a green light last week — but this time around, he’s firmly in the red. The rookie faces a Patriots defense that’s been nearly impenetrable on the ground, giving up the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game and just two rushing touchdowns all season. After torching Miami’s porous front seven in Week 7, Judkins could find himself bottled up fast in this one.

Patriots vs Browns Game Predictions

For the Cleveland Browns to have any real shot at winning games this season, they need matchups against teams that can’t stop the run or protect their quarterback — and the New England Patriots don’t quite fit that bill. While the Patriots’ offensive line has been shaky, Drake Maye’s mobility has helped cover those flaws, as his 29 scrambles rank second-most in the league. On top of that, New England boasts a top-five run defense, making life difficult for Cleveland’s ground-heavy offense and leaving little room for optimism.

Road trips have been a nightmare for the Browns this year. They’ve held their own at home with a 2-2 record, but away from Cleveland, it’s been a different story — three losses, all by wide margins. They were thrashed 41-17 in Baltimore, routed 34-10 in Detroit, and beaten 23-9 in Pittsburgh. While the Ravens and Lions are among the league’s elite, the Steelers are a much closer comparison to the Patriots — and that doesn’t bode well for Cleveland.

The Patriots, meanwhile, are coming off a commanding 42-13 home victory over Carolina. While another offensive outburst of that scale might be a stretch, New England should still have enough firepower and defensive stability to secure a comfortable win by at least a touchdown.

Patriots vs Browns Betting Odds

Spread

Browns +7 (-118)

Patriots -7 (-102)

Moneyline

Browns: +275

Patriots: -345

Total

40.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Form

Head-to-Head Record

NE

Last 5 matches

CLE

5

Wins

0

Draws

0

Wins

• Cleveland Browns

  15

  -

  38

  New England Patriots

• New England Patriots

  45

  -

  7

  Cleveland Browns

• New England Patriots

  27

  -

  13

  Cleveland Browns

• Cleveland Browns

  13

  -

  33

  New England Patriots

• New England Patriots

  27

  -

  26

  Cleveland Browns

Useful links

• Browns 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• Patriots 2025 NFL schedule: TV channel, livestream & where to watch the games
• How to watch and live stream NFL football for free and without cable
• 2025 fantasy football rankings: Running back (RB) | Wide receiver (WR) | Tight end (TE) | Quarterback (QB)