Patriots preseason loss to Browns — final score and quick lede
Patriots preseason loss to Browns ended with Cleveland’s backups beating New England 37-13 in the preseason finale. Reporting for this recap is grounded in The Portland Press Herald; see their game story for the play-by-play and original quotes: Patriots close out preseason with loss to Browns. The Press Herald account notes that New England sat many of its key starters, while the Browns turned to Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green to push the tempo.
Quarterback & offensive snapshots
Quick, data-first recaps of the quarterbacks who saw meaningful preseason action (stats per the Press Herald):
- Dillon Gabriel — 12-for-15, 186 yards, 3 TDs, 157.9 passer rating. Gabriel started and played the first half, delivering multiple scoring drives and efficient intermediate-to-deep passing.
- Taylen Green — 5-for-7 passing for 27 yards and added 8 rushes for 66 yards. Green directed a 98-yard touchdown drive in the second half and showcased the mobility the Browns are evaluating; the Press Herald presents his 4.36 40-yard time as a reported detail, not independently verified here.
- Tommy DeVito — 2-for-4 for 55 yards with a 45-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams on New England’s opening possession. DeVito provided an early highlight before the Browns’ backups built control.
- Behren Morton — 18-for-28, 123 yards, 2 INTs. Morton led multiple drives that resulted in field goals but also threw two interceptions as New England worked through late-game evaluation reps.
Scoring plays and key moments
The Browns built a lead early and kept New England on the back foot while the Patriots withheld key personnel. Per the Press Herald, the sequence that defined the game included:
- Gabriel connected with Luke Floriea for two first-quarter touchdowns — a 6-yarder and a 14-yarder — that helped Cleveland seize momentum.
- Gabriel’s drives featured several big plays, including completions of 52 yards and 29 yards on scoring sequences that flipped field position in the Browns’ favor.
- Tommy DeVito answered with a 45-yard TD pass to Kyle Williams on New England’s opening series, but the Browns answered consistently thereafter.
- Late in the second quarter, Ahmani Marshall scored on a 7-yard screen to extend Cleveland’s margin to 27-10.
- Patriots kicker Andy Borregales converted two field goals on drives led by Morton; those were New England’s only non-touchdown scoring plays.
Key QB game lines (preseason finale)
Injuries, absences and who sat
The Press Herald notes New England intentionally rested many of its primary contributors for the preseason finale, which limited live-game evaluation of starters and shifted emphasis to depth players and special teams.
On Cleveland’s side, the article reports that linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio left with a biceps issue and defensive tackle Elijah Chatman departed with a quadriceps concern; both did not return. The Press Herald does not detail the severity or project recovery timelines—so any discussion of long-term impact should be treated as uncertain until teams provide official updates.
[Placeholder for a future postgame quote: Press Herald’s game story did not include a substantive coach or player quote on those injuries or the teams’ evaluations. Add an attributed quote here when available.]
What this means for the Patriots (short-term takeaways)
Because New England sat many starters, this result is best read as a depth and special-teams snapshot rather than a predictive gauge for Week 1. A few practical takeaways:
- Quarterback evaluation remains provisional. Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton had meaningful reps in live-game conditions; the coaches will weigh these performances alongside practice reports and preseason film when making final roster decisions.
- Special teams deserve attention. Andy Borregales’ two field goals were New England’s only non-touchdown scores, and kick game reliability is often a tiebreaker in close roster battles.
- Defensive snaps for younger players and late-game packages are valuable for depth assessment even if starters were absent. Coaches tend to prioritize consistency, situational play and turnover avoidance when comparing backups on the margin.
All of the above should be framed cautiously—preseason sample sizes are small, and teams make final judgments using meetings, practice habits and medical information not fully visible to the public.
By the numbers
- 37 — Browns points in the preseason finale.
- 13 — Patriots points, including two Borregales field goals.
- 186 — Passing yards for Dillon Gabriel on 12 completions.
- 66 — Taylen Green’s rushing yards on eight carries while directing a 98-yard scoring drive.
- 2 — Interceptions thrown by Behren Morton as New England’s late-game signal-caller.
What remains unclear
The Press Herald’s reporting leaves important uncertainties: the severity and timetable for Cleveland’s injured players, the final roster implications for marginal Patriots spots, and the extent to which these preseason rep profiles will influence Week 1 depth charts. Teams often adjust after the exhibition slate based on internal medical updates and film study.
Quick lookahead — season openers and what to watch next
The Patriots open the regular season at Seattle on Sept. 9. The Browns begin their regular season at Jacksonville on Sept. 13. With the exhibition slate complete, both clubs will turn to detailed game-planning and final roster moves ahead of those dates.
Fans should track a few immediate items: official injury reports and timelines from each team, any coach statements about the backup quarterback roles, and special-teams clarity (kicking and return packages) that can decide roster margins. Follow-up coverage will update those items as teams publish their cuts and injury reports.
Grounding and source: This recap is based on The Portland Press Herald’s game story. For the original account, see: Patriots close out preseason with loss to Browns.
