New England Patriots: 3 most important plays of Week 8 vs. Browns
3. James White’s screen play
With Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns coming within 17-10 of the New England Patriots to open the second half, all momentum appeared to be shifting.
In fact, the Browns had Tom Brady and the Patriots offense in a third-and-long situation with a chance to quickly get the ball back in Mayfield’s hand. That’s when the Patriots caught Cleveland’s defense being a little too aggressive.
Brady slipped this screen pass to James White that went for 59 yards to set up a Patriots touchdown, putting them back up by two scores in the game.
Notice in this play, offensive lineman Joe Thuney got just enough of a Browns defender to spring White free on the play. It was the perfect play call and great execution by the offense to swing the momentum back in the Patriots direction.
If the Patriots are stopped there, the Browns get the ball back in good field position with a chance to either tie the game or inch closer with a field goal. With the way the defense has been playing this season, a score there isn’t a guarantee, but Brady and the offense found a way salvage the drive and punch in a touchdown when they needed to.