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New England Patriots 4 Downs Review: Week 8 vs Cleveland Browns

By Michael Perry

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on in the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on in the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 27: Running back James White #28 of the New England Patriots carries the ball in the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 27: Running back James White #28 of the New England Patriots carries the ball in the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /

2nd Down: Run the ball

The New England Patriots have a talented backfield that includes Sony Michel, James White, Rex Burkhead, and Brandon Bolden. All have been successful when called upon to contribute to the offense, though each has dealt with either bouts of ineffectiveness or missed time for various reasons, as well.

The Browns were giving up a total of 154 yards per game before Sunday’s game, which is a recipe for disaster obviously. New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been trying to get the running game going like they did last season, but it hasn’t accumulated the same results of late-2018 as of yet.

Sunday was no different, as the running game could only manage a mere 79 total yards on the ground… although 74 of those yards came from Michel. His longest rush went for 16 yards and he had some other bursts of good attacks on the ground, but still couldn’t muster the same success as some of the other running backs who have faced Cleveland’s soft run defense this season.

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