Patriots QB Drake Maye builds on MVP case, shreds Browns with perfect 2nd half in blowout win

FOXBORO The chants rang out late in the third quarter Related Articles Patriots HC Mike Vrabel sidelined Christian Barmore to protect the club What we learned Best and worst from Patriots - win over Browns Patriots ex-starting defender among inactives vs Browns Patriots add running back ex-starting safety to advancing roster Patriots-Browns preview How Drake Maye Mike Vrabel can extend their winning streak M-V-P M-V-P Drake Maye claimed he didn t hear them after scrambling for yards his ears full of wisecracks from teammates about how awkwardly he d slid to end the play But there s no question Maye heard the roar that came next The cheers just moments later that echoed in Gillette Stadium after he lofted a -yard touchdown pass to put the Browns away for good The guys were making fun of me about my slide back in the huddle on the long run so I didn t hear it But the fans have been awesome all season Maye explained after Sunday s - win It s been really cool to see the difference from last year to this year Man it s been a journey They ve been through it and the fans have been through it the last couple of years So it s just credit to them Maye finished -of- for yards three touchdowns and an interception in the Patriots fifth straight win He also rushed for yards and completed every pass he attempted in the second half as the Pats pulled away from a Cleveland squad that s struggled on offense all season Even if the Browns had enough firepower to keep pace it might not have mattered Maye threw three touchdowns in the third quarter alone first finding tight end Hunter Henry on a bootleg play-action pass then Stefon Diggs on a slant and Boutte deep down the left sideline in the final minute Maye will finish the month having thrown more touchdowns to Boutte than incompletions in his direction after completing three more passes to the young receiver on five targets Maye noted they had in recent times worked on the path that yielded their touchdown in practice He made a great great move on them and I was just trying to give him a chance Maye explained Thought I overthrew it again but he made a nice adjustment to it and a great catch Through eight games Maye has completed of his passes for yards touchdowns and three interceptions He ranks among the league leaders in all major passing categories and remains one of the favorites to win MVP History says Maye should have a good shot too According to the Patriots Maye became the fifth member in NFL history to record -plus passing yards and a passer rating of or greater in seven straight games joining Aaron Rodgers Patrick Mahomes Tom Brady and Peyton Manning All four quarterbacks were named MVP in those respective seasons As of late Sunday Maye trailed only Mahomes and Bills quarterback Josh Allen for best odds of winning MVP at most of sportsbooks