The New England Patriots entered Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season riding high, with a 5-2 record that put them in first place in the AFC East. New England fans were starting to make the case that second-year passer Drake Maye was worthy of MVP consideration, and fans of other teams were beginning to wonder if the Patriots were indeed back.
However, in some other corners, there was a degree of healthy skepticism. After all, New England’s two losses were to the Raiders in Week 1 and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. One-score wins over New Orleans and Miami, coupled with victories over the Panthers and the Titans, were not exactly resume builders. Yes, New England knocked off the Bills on Sunday Night Football in Week 5, but this year’s Buffalo defense has some questions of its own to answer.
That is why Sunday against the Cleveland Browns might have been New England’s — and Maye’s — biggest test yet. Entering Week 8, Cleveland had one of, if not the, toughest defenses in the league. The Browns had given up just 256.1 yards per game (best in the league), 173.7 passing yards per game (third-best in the league), and 82.4 rushing yards per game (fourth-best in the league).
Looking at Expected Points Added per Rush and Pass, the Browns were also in the upper echelon of defenses before Sunday:
Rounding it all out is the presence of Myles Garrett, one of the most fearsome pass rushers on the planet and a one-man wrecking ball along the defensive line for Cleveland.
Final score: New England 32, Cleveland 13.
In the win, Maye completed 18-of-24 passes for three touchdowns and an interception, propelling New England to 6-2 on the young season and earning the praise of Garrett along the way.
“I think he is a great human being,” Garrett said on Sunday. “I think he is a good quarterback who is soon to be a great quarterback. I like how he’s grown. It’s nice to be a part of his journey. Hate to be on this end of it, but it’s nice to see how he’s leading his team. He’s helped them rebuild into what they are now. In a way, I’m proud of him, and I’m happy to see his success.”
Maye got off to a hot start, leading the Patriots down the field on the first possession of the game with a drive that reached the low red zone. While New England settled for just three points, Maye’s accuracy and vision were on display on plays like this deep slant to Rhamondre Stevenson to move the chains on third down:
Maye initially opens to his left, where the Patriots are running a switch concept with Kayshon Boutte and Stefon Diggs. But with the Browns blanketing those routes, Maye gets his eyes to the other side of the field. A crossing route from tight end Hunter Henry draws a pair of defenders, leaving space for Stevenson on this deep slant route for the first down.
Two of Maye’s biggest throws came just before halftime. When the game hit the two-minute warning, the Browns were clinging to a 7-6 lead and were getting the ball to start the second half. New England faced a 3rd-and-3 on their own 24-yard line with just over a minute left in the second quarter, and a Cleveland stop on this play might have changed the complexion of the game.
Instead, Maye navigated a collapsing pocket, kept his eyes downfield, and spotted DeMario Douglas breaking free in the secondary:
While Maye managed to avoid Garrett on this play, the Cleveland pass rusher was able to get to the Patriots quarterback a staggering five times on Sunday, including one strip-sack a few plays later that nearly ended New England’s drive. But the Patriots managed to recover the loose football, yet faced a 3rd-and-23 situation at the Cleveland 45-yard line with just 29 seconds left in the half. They needed to pick up some yardage at least to get into range for rookie kicker Andy Borregales.
They nearly picked up the first down:
Maye’s best throw of the day, however, came in the second half as the Patriots broke the game open. The second-year passer threw all three of his touchdown passes in the third quarter as New England built a 30-7 lead over those 15 minutes.
Moments before that third touchdown pass — which we will get to in a minute — Maye ripped off this 28-yard scramble, highlighting his athleticism and sparking “MVP” chants around Gillette Stadium:
Then came the third touchdown pass of the day from Maye. This deep strike was a thing of beauty, as he connected with Boutte on this stutter-and-go route along the left side of the field for his third TD pass of the game:
The receiver at the end of that touchdown agreed with the crowd.
“I think it feels good to be back at home — scoring a touchdown, throwing the ball, and then the MVP chants. I was joking with him last week about MVP, too,” Boutte said after the game. “He doesn’t like to hear it. But, man, I think it’s the truth.”
The receiver did not stop there.
“I mean, y’all see what I see,” Boutte said of Maye’s MVP resume. “We all see. If you look around the league at the other guys, too. I mean, they’re doing great stuff, too.
“But I mean, I think Drake’s doing everything they’re doing. [There’s] not [anything] that he’s not doing.”
It was not a perfect performance from Maye, who threw an interception in the first half when he completely missed linebacker Carson Schwesinger lurking in underneath and nearly split the “4” and the “9” on the front of the rookie’s jersey.
But it was his biggest test yet, and he passed with flying colors.
There is a long way to go this season, and a lot of football left to be played. Looking ahead, however, New England’s schedule sets up rather favorably for this run of form to continue. Their toughest games remaining might be a visit to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers in two weeks, a rematch with the Bills at Gillette Stadium in mid-December, and then a visit to M&T Bank Stadium the following week to take on the Baltimore Ravens.
The difficulty level of that contest likely hinges on the health of Lamar Jackson.
Yet through the first half of the season, the Patriots are 6-2 and the fans are starting to believe in their young quarterback. And Maye himself has taken a big step forward here in his second season, and given what he and the Patriots offense faced on Sunday against Cleveland, he has passed his biggest test yet.
The MVP debate can wait, but right now, Maye and the Patriots look for real.
