Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots Prediction and Picks - Sunday, October 26, 2025
Use Code SSWC The Browns are looking for their first road win of the season as they visit the Patriots on Sunday. Find out more about this big NFL Week 8 game and get great side and total picks with our Browns vs. Patriots prediction and picks. Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm ET at Gillette Stadium, home of the Patriots.
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Browns solve QB quandary?
The Cleveland Browns (2-5) may finally have found a solution to the problems at quarterback, which have dogged them in this below-par start to the season. Cleveland opened the year with Joe Flacco and went 1-3 before the 40-year-old was controversially traded to the Bengals, while 2025 draftee Shadeur Sanders is yet to take a single snap in pro ball. Another rookie, Dillon Gabriel, has stepped up to take over from Flacco with positive early results.
Gabriel has thrown for 546 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in his first three starts since being drafted in the third round from Oregon. He recovered from a tough outing against Pittsburgh, where he got sacked six times by one of the NFL's most fearsome pass rushes, to get caught just twice last time out at home to Miami.
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Cleveland won out 31-6 against the Dolphins to record its second win of the year. Quinshon Judkins was the star of the show with 85 rushing yards on 25 carries and three TDs, while the Browns' defense took three picks off Tua Tagovailoa and sacked the Miami QB twice as he threw just 100 yards and was eventually pulled from the game. Cleveland has boasted one of the toughest defensive units in pro football in 2025, holding opponents to a league-best 256.1 yards per game, but the onus is on Gabriel and the offense to move up a gear and match those efforts with the ball in hand. On offense, the Browns rank 30th in yards per game (270.7) and 28th in rushing offense (92.6ypg). Rookie Quinshon Judkins has shown flashes with 467 yards and five TDs, including three scores against the Dolphins last week.
On the injury front, the Browns will be waiting on TE David Njoku (knee), who was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. WR Jerry Jeudy (knee) was limited after not participating the previous day, while C Ethan Pocic (illness) was a new addition to the injury report on Thursday and did not participate.
Patriots flying to start season
The New England Patriots (5-2) look well on track to return to the postseason in 2025 after a three-year absence. First-year head coach Mike Vrabel has revamped the Pats, who sit at the top of the AFC East ahead of the Bills, having beaten their division rivals in a 23-20 thriller on the road in Week 5. New England has now won all of its last four games after starting the season 1-2 with back-to-back home losses to the Raiders and Steelers.
Along with franchise legend Vrabel, Drake Maye has been one of the architects of the Pats' recent success. The second-year quarterback, who was named to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season in 2024, has picked up where he left off with 1744 passing yards, 12 touchdowns (T-8th in NFL) and only two interceptions. His completion rate of 75.2% ranks first among all qualified NFL QBs in 2025, while in last week's 31-3 win over the Titans, Maye completed 91.3% of his attempts (21-24), breaking a franchise record set by Tom Brady. Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been one of Maye's most reliable outlets, with a catch rate of 80%, 356 receiving yards (17.8 per reception, fifth among NFL receivers) and four TDs.
The Patriots have been great against the run this season, ranking third in the NFL with 77.1 yards per game allowed.
Stefon Diggs (chest) remained on the Pats injury report Thursday as a limited participant. S Craig Woodson (ankle) and LB Elijah Ponder (knee) gave New England cause for optimism by taking limited participation after sitting out Wednesday, while S Kyle Dugger (knee, LP) was a new addition to the report.
Browns vs. Patriots Pick
Spread Pick for Browns vs. Patriots
- Patriots -7 (five units)
For all the progress Gabriel has made in the last couple of weeks, this still looks like a mismatch against the phenomenal Maye, who can also evade the pass rush with his legs, and that should be the key to the Patriots coming through and covering at home. Gabriel has been making his passes but to modest results, just 5.1 yards per attempt, and I can't see much joy for him here against a tough Pats defense, which should smother the Browns' passing game. New England has started the year 5-2 ATS and 3-1 ATS when rated asa favorite. Cleveland is 2-4 ATS as an underdog.
Take the Patriots.
Over/Under Pick for Browns vs. Patriots
- Under 40.5 (four units)
These are two tough defensive units and the result should be a low-scoring game on Saturday. Cleveland is allowing just 173.7 passiing yards per game, ranking third in the NFL, while on the ground, the Browns give up 3.3 yards per rush, the best mark in the league. The Browns are 2-5 on the over so far in 2025. New England has gone under in three of their last five games. Opposing teams are averaging 77.3 yards per game on the ground against the Pats, the NFL's third-best defensive mark, while they rank fifth in the league by allowing an average of 19.0 points per game.
Take the under.
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