BSJ Game Report: Patriots 45, Browns 7 - New England states its case as force to reckon with in AFC

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ victory over the Browns in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Mac Jones busts through any rookie wall: If there was any concern about Mac Jones' declining play in the two games before this one, that appears to be over. Jones was a sterling 19 of 23 for 198 yards and three touchdowns in building a 38-7 lead in the first three-plus quarters, as Jones got back to the way he was playing in wins over the Texans and Cowboys. He was in complete control against a Browns defense that really didn't mix coverages or pressures all that much. It was Jones' first three-TD game of his career.

Jones and the offense was most impressive on third downs, as they converted their first seven, and 7 of 9.

3rd-8: Complete to Hunter Henry, 12 yards
3rd-6: Complete to Jakobi Meyers, 7 yards
3rd-13: Screen to Brandon Bolden, 20 yards
3rd-1: Rhamondre Stevenson 18 yards
3rd-5: Complete Kendrick Bourne, 12 yards
3rd-9: Complete Meyers, 26 yards
3rd-5: DPI, Browns.
3rd-14: Incomplete
3rd-9: Sacked.
3rd-goal: Complete, TD Henry.

No Damien Harris, no problem: Damien Harris was inactive due to concussion protocols, but rookie Rhamondre Stevenson was active — and effective. He rushed 20 times for 100 yards when it was 38-7 and had two touchdowns. He continued to mix power, speed and even nice hands in the passing game. Brandon Bolden had six touches for 70 yards, so the backfield was cooking.

"Caught well, made good yards after contact. He's been doing that for several weeks," Belichick said. "So you know, glad we had the opportunity to get a run call and for him to get the carries that he did. He stepped in for Damien and he did a great job. Again, it's good to have depth and we have depth in the backfield and count on all those guys and they have really come through for us."

Trent Brown starts at RT, Mike Onwenu to the bench: No one was sure how much Brown would play fresh off missing nearly all of the first nine games, and we weren't sure what the line combination would be. Of course, the Patriots went against the grain on both fronts. Brown played all but one series in the first half, and it was Mike Onwenu — not Ted Karras or Isaiah Wynn — who went to the bench. At least for this week against the Browns, the Patriots seemed to say that Karras was the better option at LG than Onwenu. A bit of an upset, but judging from their play this season, that's the right call.

After opening drive, defense pitches a shutout until garbage time: The Browns marched down the field after the opening kickoff, with 84 yards on 11 plays. After that, through the third quarter, the Browns had 26 plays for 31 yards and were 0 for 7 on third downs. That's utter domination. 

"So just really proud of the way the team prepared, the way they competed and you know, we just as I told them after the game there, it's Wednesday night and tomorrow's Thursday and on a did you know day schedule. So we have a lot of work to do here in a short amount of time," Belichick said. "So just enjoy this one briefly but we've got to move on and turn the page to Atlanta very quickly. It was a good day for us today and hopefully we can fill the tank back up and be ready to have another good, quick week here and be ready to go on Thursday because that will be a big challenge for us heading down there. But proud of the way these guys played today and proud of the way they competed."

TURNING POINT

On the opening possession, the Patriots marched down the field but looked to be in a field goal situation when a sack of Mac Jones left New England at 3rd and 13 from the Cleveland 23. But then Brandon Bolden got loose on a screen pass thanks to some good blocking by David Andrews, Ted Karras and Jakobi Meyers.

SECOND GUESS

The only second guess in this game was Kevin Stefanski going away from his running game and putting the game in Baker Mayfield's hands way too early. This Browns team, especially without Nick Chubb, has to play in a certain fashion — similar to the Patriots. When they get out of that, they get in big trouble.

FOUR UP

Mac Jones: The rookie QB definitely knows what he's doing. After getting sped up in the previous two games, he looked like he was being more deliberate in everything he did. Needed to get back into rhythm, and took great care to do that. Very impressive for a rookie.

Rhamondre Stevenson: If Jones was perfect at QB, Stevenson was pretty close at running back. He looked like a franchise back in this game.

Ja'Whaun Bentley: Belichick seemed to turn him loose after the first drive to go attack the run instead of reading it, and it make a big difference.

"He's done a great job for us all year," Belichick said. "You know we ask him to do a lot of different things and he's worked hard to adjust to some new roles that he's had on this team in terms of technique, playing responsibility and some different assignments and so forth but embraces it. He always tries to know how he can help the team, how he can do his job better and help somebody else or help do his part on whatever the play happens to call for him to do. Punt return team, you know, whatever it is. He's right there always ready to go and he's given us a lot of quality plays. I'm glad we have him. He's been a really good player for us."

Josh McDaniels: Basically called a perfect first half and with the announcers and CBS halftime crew gushing over him, this was a game to send to every owner in the league look for a HC to develop a young QB and young offense.

TWO DOWN

Jakobi Meyers, as a punt returner: At least twice he let a ball bounce and the Browns gained almost 50 yards in yardage.

J.J. Taylor: Everybody else did something on offense. He had six carries for 11 yards.

INJURIES

CB Jalen Mills (left shoulder): Returned to the game.

TOP PLAYS

THREE TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

The Patriots are indeed back: There was reasonable doubt in the previous two games against teams that were one-dimensional on offense, and with Mac Jones struggling a bit. But this victory, especially after the Browns were perfectly balanced in scoring on the opening kickoff was hugely impressive. It was the Patriots' most impressive complete victory, probably since the 2019 season opener against the Steelers. The Patriots are now very much for real in the AFC and everything continues to be in front of them.

Good to see Jakobi Meyers finally score: Think Meyers' teammates like him? After he finally scored the first TD of his career, the entire team ran into the end zone to celebrate, and Belichick gave him a little love on the way back as well. That was well-earned respect for Meyers, who does a lot of the dirty work for this offense.

Sundays don't get much better than that: Soak it all in. Stay off Twitter. Just bask in the glow of that victory because they don't come any better than that. Seven more game to go. A lot of grinding ahead.

"It was a complete offensive effort," Belichick said. "You couldn't single anybody out. Browns have a lot of good defensive players, a great corner, a couple good defensive ends. You know, a lot of other good players, too and they brought a couple guys back this week defensively but I thought we ran the ball competitively, threw the ball competitively. Finished drives in the red zone with touchdowns. You know, it was a good team offensive effort all the way across the board in every area."