The New England Patriots took no prisoners in Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns.
Given the quality of the opposition it was arguably the most complete performance of any Patriots squad since Tom Brady’s departure following the 2019 season.
Mac Jones continues to show why the Patriots felt confident handing him the keys to the offense despite his status as a rookie.
Jones took what the defense offered, but he was also not afraid to thread the needle.
Not only was he again called upon as a pass catcher — finishing with four receptions for 14 yards — he was the workhorse back New England was missing with Harris sidelined.
The offensive line helped him put up those numbers, but Stevenson himself also found positive yards when none appeared to be there.
Nick Chubb’s Covid-19 diagnosis was a blow to the Browns’ running game, but the team’s impressive offensive line was still intact heading into the game.
The Patriots shuffled their offensive line a bit, using a rotation at right tackle with Trent Brown starting and Michael Onwenu taking the field in select situations.
With Gunner Olszewski out due to a concussion sustained the previous week, the Patriots turned to Jakobi Meyers as their punt returner.
The third-year receiver took a short pass from Brian Hoyer in the fourth quarter, broke a tackle, and took the ball in for an 11-yard score.
His best reception of the day came in the second quarter, when he capped off New England’s 99-yard rally with a spectacular 23-yard catch in between two defenders.
By now, Hunter Henry appears to have established himself as one of the most reliable red zone targets in the league.
With the game tied at 7-7 in the early second quarter, he intercepted Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and returned the pick 37 yards to the Cleveland 5-yard line.