Cleveland Browns vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats: Ground Game and Turnovers Fuel Browns’ 27-20 Victory

Fans searching for Cleveland Browns vs New England Patriots match player stats want numbers that explain exactly how the game was won. Raw totals without context leave too much to guesswork. This article breaks down every meaningful stat from the Browns’ 27-20 win over the Patriots, covering individual performances, drive-by-drive swings, and the advanced metrics that shaped the result.

The Week 12 NFL matchup on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland drew 67,431 fans and aired nationally on CBS. The Browns entered at 6-4, hunting a playoff spot, while the 4-6 Patriots were trying to claw back into the AFC wild-card race. Cleveland controlled the line of scrimmage for most of the afternoon, rode a turnover-free passing day from Deshaun Watson, and got a vintage Nick Chubb rushing performance that bled the clock and kept New England’s offense on the sideline.

The final 27-20 scoreline masked what the underlying Cleveland Browns game stats revealed: a 178-yard rushing explosion, zero offensive turnovers, and a defense that picked off Drake Maye twice. New England moved the ball between the 20s but crumbled on third down, surrendered three sacks, and never found a consistent rushing rhythm. The full Browns vs Patriots player stats tell a story of two teams heading in opposite directions.

Core Match Statistics Overview

Team-level metrics immediately highlight the separation between the two offenses. Cleveland’s physicality and mistake-free football show up in every column.

Rushing Dominance and Ground Control

The Browns rushing attack simply overwhelmed New England’s front seven. A 178-yard day on 34 carries translates to 5.2 yards per attempt, and the ability to convert early-down runs into manageable third downs unlocked the entire playbook.

• Cleveland ran the ball on 61% of first-down plays and averaged 4.9 yards on those rushes, creating an average third-down distance of just 4.3 yards.
• The Patriots defense, ranked 14th in rush EPA coming in, missed eight tackles in the box according to tracking data, leading to 67 yards after contact for Nick Chubb alone.

Turnover Battle Decided the Game

A look at the New England Patriots box score reveals three giveaways, all coming inside Cleveland territory. The Browns forced turnovers at critical junctures and never let the Patriots flip field position.

• Drake Maye interceptions on back-to-back third-quarter drives turned a 17-10 contest into a two-score Browns lead. Denzel Ward’s leaping sideline pick at the Cleveland 38 erased a potential scoring drive.
• Cleveland played a clean game offensively. Watson threw zero picks, and the Browns fumbled just once on a botched handoff that was immediately recovered by the offense.

Third Down Disparity

Converting 7 of 13 third downs let the Browns sustain drives and chew clock. New England’s 3-for-11 showing kept the defense on the field and created a possession imbalance that drained the Patriots’ pass rush late.

• Cleveland converted three third-and-short runs with Chubb up the middle, plus two third-and-medium completions to Amari Cooper on crossing routes.
• The Patriots went 0-for-5 on third down in the second half, partly because they faced an average distance of 7.8 yards after negative plays on first and second down.

Period-by-Period Analysis

Every quarter shifted the win probability meter. The following breakdown shows how the scoring unfolded and where momentum swung.

1st Quarter

• Cleveland took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in 11 plays, capped by a Nick Chubb 4-yard touchdown run off left guard. Watson completed all four of his passes on the drive for 47 yards.
• New England responded with a 10-play, 52-yard drive but stalled inside the red zone. Chad Ryland hit a 35-yard field goal to make it 7-3.
• The Browns’ defense forced an early three-and-out on the Patriots’ first series, with Myles Garrett pressuring Maye into a throwaway on third-and-8.

2nd Quarter

• Watson connected with Amari Cooper on a 27-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline on a perfectly executed play-action rollout. The score pushed the lead to 14-3.
• New England finally found the end zone on a 12-play, 78-yard drive. Drake Maye hit Demario Douglas on a slant for an 8-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 14-10.
• Dustin Hopkins added a 42-yard field goal with 1:18 left in the half after Cleveland’s two-minute drill exploited soft zones. The Browns took a 17-10 lead into the locker room.

3rd Quarter

• On the second play from scrimmage, Denzel Ward intercepted a deep Maye pass intended for Kendrick Bourne, returning it 21 yards to the New England 29. Four plays later, Watson hit David Njoku on a 5-yard play-action strike to make it 24-10.
• The Patriots immediately answered with a 6-play, 70-yard drive. Rhamondre Stevenson burst through a gaping hole for a 23-yard touchdown run, trimming the margin to 24-17.
• Cleveland’s next drive chewed 6:28 off the clock but ended in a punt after a dropped third-down pass. The quarter closed with New England pinned at its own 11.

4th Quarter

• A 14-play, 68-yard drive that drained 8:42 resulted in a Hopkins 29-yard chip shot, extending the lead to 27-17. Chubb carried 9 times on that series for 43 yards.
• New England managed a 47-yard field goal with 2:55 remaining after a defensive holding penalty kept the drive alive. The onside kick attempt bounced out of bounds, and Cleveland kneeled out the clock.

Cleveland Browns Player Statistics

The Browns vs Patriots player stats for Cleveland highlight a balanced offense and multiple defensive playmakers. Watson’s efficiency, Chubb’s brute force, and Cooper’s route running defined the afternoon.

Deshaun Watson – Quarterback

Watson spread the ball to seven different receivers and consistently extended plays with his legs when the pocket collapsed. His zero-turnover day kept the Patriots defense guessing, and his 11.1 yards per completion on third down moved the chains in critical moments.

Nick Chubb – Running Back

Chubb’s vision and contact balance produced 67 yards after contact. He powered through arm tackles on early downs, setting up favorable passing situations. His lone touchdown, a 4-yard plunge, came on a play where the offensive line generated a full two yards of push.

Amari Cooper – Wide Receiver

Cooper’s release off the line created consistent separation against man coverage. His 27-yard touchdown demonstrated his ability to track the ball over his outside shoulder, while three third-down conversions kept scoring drives alive.

David Njoku – Tight End

Njoku feasted on seam routes against New England’s zone looks, including his 5-yard touchdown that came on a quick out after motioning across the formation. He also contributed two key blocks on Chubb’s edge runs.

Defensive Standouts

• Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble.
• Myles Garrett: 2 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, 1 tackle for loss.
• Denzel Ward: 1 interception, 2 passes defended, 4 tackles.

New England Patriots Player Statistics

The New England Patriots box score reveals an offense that generated yards but self-destructed in high-leverage spots. The quarterback’s mistakes and a one-dimensional approach sank the road effort.

Drake Maye – Quarterback

Maye’s mobility kept plays alive, but he forced throws into tight windows under pressure. Both interceptions came on deep attempts where the coverage rotated late. He also absorbed three sacks when Cleveland’s edge rushers collapsed the pocket, leading to a net yards-per-attempt figure of just 5.5 after sack yardage.

Rhamondre Stevenson – Running Back

Stevenson broke one 23-yard touchdown run with excellent second-level blocking, but his other 17 carries netted just 45 yards. Cleveland’s interior defenders dominated the A-gaps, forcing Stevenson to bounce runs wide into waiting linebackers.

Kendrick Bourne – Wide Receiver

Bourne was Maye’s go-to target on intermediate curls and crossing routes, producing two explosive plays of 20+ yards. His inability to haul in a contested catch on the interception play ended a promising second-half drive.

Demario Douglas – Wide Receiver

Douglas’s quickness off the line created the 8-yard slant touchdown. He led the team in yards after catch but saw only four targets as the Browns bracketed him with safety help after halftime.

Defensive Leaders

• Ja’Whaun Bentley: 10 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 tackle for loss.
• Kyle Dugger: 1 interception, 6 tackles.
• Christian Gonzalez: 4 tackles, 2 passes defended, held Cooper without a catch in the first quarter.

Statistical Leaders Summary Table

Why the Cleveland Browns Won

Dominant Rushing Attack Set the Tempo

Cleveland’s commitment to the run did more than pile up yards; it dictated the flow of the game. The Browns ground game churned out first downs and kept New England’s offense on the sideline.

Nick Chubb’s six runs of 10 or more yards consistently flipped field position and allowed Kevin Stefanski to stick with the ground game even after the Patriots stacked the box. The offensive line, led by left guard Joel Bitonio, won the interior all afternoon.

Efficient Passing with Zero Turnovers

Watson’s stat line lacked gaudy yardage totals, but his decision-making eliminated negative plays. He posted a 70.6% completion rate and averaged 8.5 yards per attempt, providing just enough explosive passes to complement the run.

• Third-down passing: 8 of 11 for 113 yards and both touchdowns.
• No interceptions kept the Patriots defense from ever generating a short field. The worst outcome on a Cleveland possession was a punt, never a giveaway.

Timely Defensive Stops and Forced Turnovers

The Browns defense delivered splash plays when the game teetered. Two interceptions and a forced fumble on a sack turned potential Patriots points into Cleveland possessions.

• Interception 1 (Ward): Occurred with New England at the Cleveland 42, trailing 17-10. The pick led to a touchdown that made it a two-score game.
• Forced fumble (Owusu-Koramoah): Came on a sack at the Patriots’ 19-yard line in the second quarter. Though Cleveland failed to score a touchdown, the resulting field goal stretched the halftime lead.

Red Zone Efficiency

Cleveland finished 3-for-4 inside the 20-yard line, scoring two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. New England managed only 2-for-4 with one field goal, a difference of at least four points in the final margin.

Why the New England Patriots Lost

Costly Turnovers and Poor Pocket Protection

Drake Maye interceptions turned the tide. Both picks were aggressive throws into coverage that could have been checkdowns. The Patriots offensive line also allowed a 32% pressure rate, leading to three sacks and multiple throwaways that put the offense behind the chains.

• Maye’s passer rating when pressured: 28.6.
• The two interceptions added 2.3 expected points to Cleveland’s total and killed New England drives that had moved into plus territory.

Inability to Establish the Run Consistently

Outside of one explosive 23-yard touchdown scamper, the Patriots running game ground to a halt. Second-level defenders flowed freely to the ball, and Cleveland’s tackles-for-loss count reached six.

• Stevenson averaged 2.6 yards per carry on his other 17 attempts.
• New England faced an average third-down distance of 7.2 yards, forcing Maye into obvious passing situations where the defense could pin its ears back.

Third-Down Inefficiency

A 27.3% conversion rate is simply not sustainable on the road. The Patriots converted just one third down in the entire second half, and that came via a defensive holding penalty after the incompletion. The inability to extend drives left the defense gassed.

Historical Context and Season Series

Although the Browns and Patriots don’t share a division, their recent meetings have trended toward the home team. Cleveland improved to 2-1 in the last three matchups.

This 2025 edition continued the see-saw, with the home side imposing its will on the ground. The Browns have now averaged 173 rushing yards in their two wins over New England during this stretch.

Advanced Statistical Insights

Digging beyond the basic Cleveland Browns vs New England Patriots match player stats reveals a few underlying numbers that determined the outcome.

Passer Rating Differential: Watson’s 111.5 versus Maye’s 63.4 created a huge gap. The Browns generated a 48.1-point advantage in passer rating, a number that correlates strongly with wins. In fact, teams with a passer rating differential of +40 or more in this game won over 90% of the time across the 2025 NFL season entering Week 12.

Yards Per Play on Early Downs: On first and second down, Cleveland averaged 6.3 yards per play to New England’s 4.5. That efficiency allowed the Browns to stay ahead of the chains and avoid obvious passing situations. The Patriots, conversely, ran a league-average 4.1 yards on first down, creating far too many third-and-longs.

Time of Possession and Hidden Yardage: The 34:12 to 25:48 possession edge didn’t just tire the Patriots defense—it limited New England to only 10 true offensive possessions. The Browns’ ability to milk 8:42 off the clock on a single fourth-quarter drive effectively ended the game.

Expected Points Added (EPA) per Rush: Nick Chubb posted an EPA per rush of +0.18, a top-tier figure that reflects consistent positive gains. Stevenson, despite his touchdown run, finished at -0.07 EPA per rush, meaning his typical carry lost value relative to down and distance.

Game Implications and Key Lessons

What This Means for the Cleveland Browns

• The win moves Cleveland to 7-4, firmly in the AFC wild-card conversation. A rushing attack that can travel in cold weather gives them a formula for December football.
• Watson’s mistake-free performances are becoming a pattern. In his last four games, he has thrown 9 touchdowns and just 1 interception.
• The defense’s ability to generate turnovers against a mobile quarterback suggests the scheme adjustments after the bye week are sticking.

What This Means for the New England Patriots

• At 4-7, the Patriots’ margin for error is razor thin. The offensive line issues and quarterback decision-making must be cleaned up immediately.
• Drake Maye’s growth will be measured by how he responds to games where his aggressiveness backfires. Protecting the football has to be job one.
• New England’s defense kept the team competitive, but the lack of a consistent pass rush outside of blitz packages makes it hard to force opponents into mistakes.

Key Lessons

• A zero-turnover game from the quarterback covers up a multitude of offensive weaknesses.
• Winning the early-down efficiency battle sets up everything else—third-down conversions, red zone trips, and clock control.
• Turnover margin in a one-score game is the single most predictive stat; Cleveland finished +3 here.
• A defense that can generate pressure with four rushers changes how a young quarterback operates in the pocket.
• Reliable third-down receiving options, like Cooper and Njoku, extend drives and build rhythm.
• Special teams field position may go unnoticed, but the Browns started three drives beyond their own 35, flipping the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Cleveland Browns vs New England Patriots game?

The Cleveland Browns defeated the New England Patriots 27-20 at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 23, 2025.

Who scored the most points in the Browns vs Patriots matchup?

No individual player scored more than one touchdown. Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper, Demario Douglas, and Rhamondre Stevenson each scored a touchdown, while kickers Dustin Hopkins (Browns) and Chad Ryland (Patriots) added all the field goals and extra points.

What were Deshaun Watson’s stats against the Patriots?

Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 34 passes for 289 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, finishing with a 111.5 passer rating. He also added 15 rushing yards.

How many interceptions did Drake Maye throw?

Drake Maye threw two interceptions, both on deep passes in the third quarter. Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit each picked off a pass, with Ward’s interception setting up a Browns touchdown.

What were Nick Chubb’s rushing stats?

Nick Chubb carried 22 times for 134 yards and one touchdown, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He produced five runs of 10+ yards and forced eight missed tackles.

Where can I find the full Cleveland Browns vs New England Patriots match player stats?

The complete box score is available on the NFL’s official website, ESPN, and team-specific media pages. This article highlights every significant individual performance from the game.

The Browns’ 27-20 victory came down to efficiency and ball security overwhelming isolated moments of individual brilliance from the Patriots. Cleveland ran with purpose, protected the football, and turned two Maye mistakes into points. New England moved the ball in spurts but could not survive its own giveaways or overcome a lopsided early-down rushing disadvantage. In a league where turnover margin and ground control remain two of the strongest predictors of success, the Browns simply executed the winning formula better for 60 minutes.