The Patriots are rolling as winners of five-straight games following a 32-13 victory over the Browns at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, and everyone is deservedly receiving their flowers for a 6-2 start.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and second-year QB Drake Maye are rightfully getting the most praise. Maye is elevating New England's offense to seventh in scoring (26.6 PPG), sixth in EPA per play (+0.11), and 11th in DVOA – basically a top-10 offense in most metrics. As for Vrabel, he certainly has his hands on his team's schemes, fundamentals, and game plans, while setting the tone for the locker room culture. Maye is currently in the early MVP discussion, and Vrabel is in the early Coach of the Year conversation, which is all deserved.

That said, after watching the tape from Sunday's win, we also have to tip our caps to the job OC Josh McDaniels is doing with the Patriots offense. Along with Maye playing at an MVP-level, McDaniels continues to unlock new dimensions to New England's offense, out-scheming DC Jim Schwartz and the Browns defense, which came into Sunday's matchup ranked fifth in DVOA. Schwartz is considered one of the best defensive coordinators in the league, while Cleveland has talented players around star DE Myles Garrett on defense, and McDaniels took them to school.

On Sunday, the Browns allowed season-highs in total yards (422), first downs (23), rushing yards (177), yards per pass attempt (8.2), explosive plays (seven), and total EPA (+6.5). In the second half, Maye added +0.91 expected points per drop-back with a perfect passer rating of 158.3: 8-8, 114 yards, three touchdowns, and 34 additional yards on the ground.

Although the dam didn't break until the second half for the Browns defense, McDaniels's early play-sequencing was still on point. On the Patriots opening field goal drive, New England scripted two 10-plus yard run plays. The first play was a FB wham scheme, where the Pats invite the play-side defensive tackle upfield from the offset-I formation to get blockers to the second level for a 12-yard gain, taking advantage of Cleveland's aggressiveness. Then, McDaniels showed the same formation and inside run action, but the Patriots flipped the ball out to Henderson on the edge for an easy 18-yard gain.

Once the Patriots established the toss plays, McDaniels called play-action passes off the run actions. Above, the Pats motion TE Austin Hooper into the formation like he's about to "crack" the end on a toss, simulating the toss-action with the play fake and blocking. Maye gets a nice block from his other tight end, Hunter Henry, to help him get the edge on the bootleg, and WR Kayshon Boutte separates on a "squirrel" route for a 15-yard completion.

There were also other examples of McDaniels's play-sequencing, especially on the Pats first possession of the second half, which was all schemed up plays to orchestrate a touchdown drive. For example, McDaniels shows a jet sweep to the defense (eight yards), then uses jet motion as window dressing to get Henry wide-open for a touchdown. In the first clip, you can see the Browns defense is late to adjust with their safety rotation, which allows Pop to turn the corner. Next, the Pats get numbers to the short side of the field when the Browns switch the formation strength with their safeties rotating in response to the motion, creating a 2-on-1 in the flat for a walk-in touchdown for Henry.

As for Maye, the Patriots quarterback deserves credit for his individual success, which has a lot to do with his raw talent. However, you also see Maye improving week-to-week. On Sunday, Maye made much better scramble decisions to stay in clean pockets to find receivers later in his progressions. He also ran out of bounds (16 yards) and slid (28 yards) on his two explosive scrambles, while keeping his eyes downfield on a 44-yard gain, all areas of improvement from the previous week. Maye is also diagnosing post-snap coverage rotations, hitting the layups, and elevating the scheme with his play extension and deep passing (2-3, 83 yards, TD).

"[McDaniels is] just dialing it up multiple times and getting guys open and really making it easy for me. He's done it his whole life, and I feel like he was put on this earth to be an offensive coordinator. It was fun to be in the headset with him," Maye said of his offensive coordinator.

There's so much to like about the entire operation for the Patriots offense, and McDaniels is in the director's chair currently pressing all the right buttons. Now eight games into their first season together, the Patriots trio of Vrabel, Maye, and McDaniels is hard to beat.

Here's a breakdown of the matchup versus Myles Garret, the run defense, and quick-hit film notes from the win over the Browns After Further Review.

Bonus Offense Review: LT Will Campbell vs. Browns Star EDGE Myles Garrett

It wasn't a great afternoon for the fourth-overall pick with two sacks allowed in his toughest matchup yet (maybe ever) against Browns star pass-rusher Myles Garrett on Sunday.

Heading into the matchup, we touted Garrett as a future Hall of Famer who might be the best pass-rushing defensive end in the history of pro football – that's not hyperbole. Garrett's ability to stack rush moves and anticipate chips and double-teams is special – nobody can consistently block this guy 1-on-1. That said, let's put Campbell's afternoon in context because the tape wasn't all that bad once he adjusted to the chips he was receiving from the tight ends, and he didn't allow any additional pressure outside of his two sacks with some 1-on-1 wins vs. Garrett.

As head coach Mike Vrabel outlined on Monday, the issue Campbell was having with the chips was giving Garrett too much space once he came off the tight end's help. Rather than closing down the space, Campbell was trying to sit back and catch Garrett after he made a secondary move, which gave Garrett too much room to challenge the corner with crossovers to burst and dip around the edge. Eventually, Campbell adjusted and had some better chip-help reps.

"We just need to close the space a little bit," Vrabel said. "He knows when he's coming off that chip, that we have to probably close the distance and know that he's ready to make another move or another couple moves."

When he was 1-on-1 with Garrett, Campbell held his own, using his power and quick feet to run Garrett past the quarterback on several reps. Campbell dropped anchor on two occasions to stymie Garrett's bull rush and had two other 1-on-1 reps where he ran him past the QB. Honestly, the matchup went better for Campbell when Garrett wasn't coming off a chip block, as he just stayed inside-out, anchored vs. power, and ushered Garrett around Maye in the pocket.

Campbell was primarily responsible for two of Garrett's five sacks. The other three were assigned to RT Morgan Moses, LG Jared Wilson (on a stunt), and Garrett was unblocked on a bootleg where he sacked Maye. Maye also could've helped Campbell with a faster release on the first red-zone sack (see audio breakdown). We aren't making excuses for Campbell: two sacks is two sacks. But it wasn't a total disaster, especially when considering it was the rookie's 8^th career NFL regular season game.

Defense Review: Patriots Run Defense Shuts Down Browns, RB Quinshon Judkins

Although it was another slow start for the defense on Cleveland's opening drive, the Patriots quickly settled down in this game to hold the Browns scoreless on their next eight possessions.

Statistically, New England's defense is rounding into form, albeit against weaker competition. The Patriots are now fourth in scoring defense at 18.3 points per game allowed, fifth in EPA per play allowed (-0.05), and have improved to 11th in passing EPA allowed (+0.02). Not to take anything away from the coaches and players, but we must mention the level of competition. Over the last two weeks, the Pats have faced the Browns (30th in EPA) and Titans (32nd) struggling offenses.

Still, the Patriots defense made the Browns offense look bad for most of Sunday's win. Plus, New England's run defense is on an eight-week heater. On paper, it didn't seem likely that the Browns would beat the Patriots in the passing game. Instead, the path for Cleveland was a great defensive performance supplemented by a strong rushing attack, which is what they got in the Browns 31-6 win over Miami in Week 7.

On Sunday, the Patriots became the first defense to go eight games without allowing a 50-plus yard rusher since 1950, holding Browns rookie RB Quinshon Judkins to 19 yards on nine attempts. As a team, Cleveland only had a 29% success rate on the ground (22nd percentile), with a 31-yard jet sweep propping up their averages. Heading into Week 8, Judkins ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards after contact (420) and had produced 21 forced missed tackles (tied for eighth among RBs). By taking out the run game, rookie QB Dillon Gabriel was forced to drop back 37 times, which wasn't a winning formula for Cleveland.

Schematically, the fun part is how the Patriots are fitting the run in their new system under head coach Mike Vrabel. New England used to run a two-gapping system that prioritized setting or "boxing" the edges, meaning the edge defenders funneled the ball back inside to the run-stuffers. The old mantra was "no edge, no chance."

Under Vrabel, the Patriots have different front mechanics, where they want to "spill" the ball to the outside rather than force it back inside. New England often uses "lever-spill-lever" run fits. In these schemes, the edges actually crash down inside, as does the play-side linebacker to "splatter" the second puller, while the safety is the "force" who sets the edge of the defense, allowing the MIKE to fly free to the ball carrier.

In this example, the Browns are running GF counter with two pullers. So, edge-rusher Anfernee Jennings crashes down to the first puller, LB Jack Gibbens splatters the second puller, and S Jaylinn Hawkins is the force setting the edge, which allows LB Robert Spillane to overlap and pace out the runner for a two-yard loss. By keeping Spillane clean, he can read-and-react to the ball carrier, which is the Pats captain's specialty.

Along with the 50-plus yard rusher stat, the Patriots defense ranks fifth in rush EPA and sixth in rush success rate (pending MNF). The results from their new run defense have been fantastic, while the attacking mindset has led to more negative runs than their old "build a wall" mentality in a two-gapping system. In the first eight weeks, the Patriots run defense has been a thing of beauty with the stats to back it up.

Quick-Hit Film Notes From Pats-Browns After Further Review

Offense

- My only play-calling nitpicks in this game were a few runs/boots into the wide-nine defensive ends, which are a staple of Schwartz's defense. The Pats called tackle-trap from the low red-zone (-4), GT Counter (-3), and a boot to Garrett's side (three-yard sack). Those plays stood no chance, and you wonder if we're at the point where Maye can check out of those runs to get the offense into a better play.

- RB TreVeyon Henderson broke out for 75 rushing yards on 10 attempts with three runs over 10 yards and six successful carries. Henderson's vision and patience were much better working outside the tackles, where he hit seven runs for 68 yards (9.7 YPC). Some of it was schemed up, but his 27-yard crack toss was good vision to cut back inside, and then Henderson broke the safety's tackle to gain 15 yards after contact. Henderson also had a solid blitz pickup coming off a play-action fake where the Pats gained 19 yards on a crosser – a sign of growth. This was much better for all involved from a usage and performance standpoint. That said, Henderson's late fumble was the lone blemish.

- WR Mack Hollins is on a two-game heater with five chunk gains over the last two weeks. This week, Hollins caught another hole shot from Maye (21 yards) and two big crossers off the double pass/play-action (19 yards each). Hollins also caught a series of outs, including a deep out for 13 yards. Hollins is blocking well, contributing to the run and play-action pass game. He's been playing good all-around football.

- WR Kayshon Boutte continues to be one of the most efficient receivers in the NFL on a per-target basis. On Sunday, Boutte ran by backside coverage on a stutter-and-go for a 39-yard touchdown, found the open space between the numbers on a big dig to put the Pats into field goal range late in the first half, and ran a "squirrel" route perfectly for a 15-yard gain. Boutte did have a drop on a slant and a rare incompletion on a third-down slot fade, but the beat goes on with the Maye-to-Boutte connection. They're eating up backside coverage on verticals.

- LG Jared Wilson's run-blocking is rapidly improving as the season wears on, so kudos to the staff for sticking with the rookie. Wilson had eight-plus run blocks, an outstanding number, with some standout second-level climbs to seal off backside pursuit on the Pats toss schemes. When he gets into space where he can use his athleticism, there are some terrific flashes for Wilson. The pass-blocking is still up and down, with a sack allowed on a T/E stunt (Garrett) and some dented pockets against power. Wilson did have a plus-block picking up a stunt later in the game, though, and the run blocking is very encouraging.

- WR DeMario Douglas chucked S Grant Delpit at the top of the route on a stick-nod, creating separation that led to a 44-yard completion after Maye extended the play. Delpit wanted a flag, but the refs didn't call Douglas for a push off. Douglas also had an 8-yard jet sweep that set up TE Hunter Henry's touchdown. He's making the most of his opportunities.

- WR Stefon Diggs caught an eight-yard slant followed by a one-yard touchdown, his first as a Patriot. The touchdown came on a McDaniels staple, the shield screen, where Hollins blocked for Diggs on the goal-line to punch the ball into the end zone. Although the shield screen usually has two blockers, like on Danny Amendola's two-point conversion in Super Bowl LI, it was a similar play design.

- TE Austin Hooper caught a 21-yard seam-splitter and did some good work as an in-line blocker. This week, TE Hunter Henry's blocking stood out on film, with three-plus blocks, including a great seal of the end on a bootleg to get Maye out of the pocket. Henry also caught his touchdown on a Y-Delay scheme off the boot, which was built off him staying into block on previous bootlegs. The Pats veteran TE duo is as reliable as it gets.

- RB Rhamondre Stevenson had a great nine-yard run on a lead-draw where he spun off contact to turn a short gain into a longer one. Stevenson also caught a 15-yard slant while flexing out in empty, which might've been a touchdown with a slightly better pass. Although this was a Henderson week, Stevenson did some gritty work.

- RT Morgan Moses had an up-and-down performance with Garrett's hump move giving the veteran tackle problems. Moses gave up four total pressures, including a sack to Garrett against power, but did seal the edge while pulling in front of Henderson on both of the rookie's explosive runs off tosses. Moses was left 1-on-1 with Garrett more than Campbell, and those reps went to the Browns star pass-rusher, but the veteran was a big part of the Patriots success in the run game.

- RG Mike Onwenu had some good second-level climbs in the run game and only allowed two hurries in pass protection, but he did have a false start on third-and-short that backed the Patriots into a third-and-6. Overall, Onwenu was solid outside of the penalty.

- The action went away from C Garrett Bradbury with all the outside running, and he pancaked a Browns linebacker on a second-level climb getting outside on a toss scheme. However, Bradbury was pushed back into the backfield on a third-and-1 run stuff in the first half.

- QB Pressures: Campbell (2 sacks), Wilson (sack, QB hit, hurry), Moses (sack, three hurries), Onwenu (two hurries), Bradbury (hurry), Stevenson (hurry).

Defense

- The Patriots had two coverage busts, and without knowing their assignments, it's unclear who was at fault. One was on TE Harold Fannin Jr.'s 18-yard touchdown on FB leak, where the Browns deserve credit for anticipating cover-three and flooding the Pats deep zone. Still, with CB Carlton Davis III carrying the vertical release to that side of the field, someone has to cover Fannin. The other coverage miscue was when the Pats poorly sorted out a bunch formation. Browns WR Isaiah Bond was wide open had Gabriel seen the breakdown earlier. Luckily, the throw was late and took Bond out of bounds for an incomplete pass on third down (2nd QTR, 11:33).

- New England played a ton of disguised zone coverages again this week. Most likely, the idea was to confuse a young quarterback. With Gabriel only having a 30% success rate (fourth percentile), the game plan worked, while the Browns also might've gotten the Pats out of man coverage calls with their man-beaters on their opening drive. Overall, the Pats only played seven of Gabriel's 37 drop-backs in man coverage (18.9%).

- From a pass-rush standpoint, HC Mike Vrabel has spoken about marrying rush and coverage, where the coverage takes away the quarterback's initial read so that the rush can get home, and the rush prevents the quarterback from getting to the backside of progressions. On Sunday, it appeared the goal was to collapse the pocket on Gabriel, knowing the 5-foot-11 rookie wouldn't be able to see over the trees, forcing the Browns QB to leave the pocket. The marriage between rush and coverage was mostly there, while Gabriel was just 3-of-6 for 47 yards and an interception on passes outside the tackle box.

- Although one blemish on a missed tackle led to a 21-yard catch, LB Robert Spillane is playing terrific football for this defense. Along with his interception, Spillane had three run stuffs and made another coverage stop as a short zone-dropper. Spillane is thriving against the run. He's been doing a great job over the last six weeks.

- DT Milton Williams had six total pressures with his bull rush and rip move finishers. He also saved a short completion by batting down a pass and logged a run stuff. Williams is making the most of his chances to tee off on quarterbacks who don't seem interested in holding the ball for too long.

- After sitting out the first quarter, DT Christian Barmore had five total pressures with his power/hump move and a run stuff on duo. He blew up the Browns flea-flicker attempt that might've had a chance, and used a hump move to force Gabriel into a safety via intentional ground in his own end zone. Five pressures in three quarters is just ridiculous.

- EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson stayed hot with three total pressures using his two-hand swipe, bull rush, and a T/E stunt pressure. Chaisson also had a stellar rep on the Browns double pass, picking up the running back who was the intended target on the throwback to blow up the play. That was an outstanding, heads-up play by Chaisson.

- EDGE Harold Landry III had two three pressures with a nice inside crossover rush and a few bull rushes. Landry also helped build the wall against duo on a few occasions and "spilled" the ball by firing downhill against pullers versus the Browns counter schemes.

- CB Christian Gonzalez was good in both man and zone coverages on Sunday. In man, Gonzo blanketed a go ball by WR Jerry Jeudy to get a fourth-down red zone stop. He also showed impressive click-and-close from his short zone to separate the ball from the receiver in a flat drop, while tackling the ball carrier in the flat for a coverage TFL, both in cover two zone. Gonzalez's burst to shrink passing windows is improving each week as he gets his legs underneath him after missing training camp.

- CB Carlton Davis III jumped an out route for a near-interception, resulting in a third-down stop. However, Davis was called for another penalty— a defensive holding in coverage on third down, his sixth penalty of the season. Davis has been flagged in five of the last six games.

- CB Marcus Jones had a coverage TFL, playing the curl window and then breaking down on the flat. He also had a run stuff and a pass defensed on an under route on third down, where he sorted out a "follow" concept nicely with LB Jack Gibbens. Jones allowed some short zone completions, like a 9-yard slant to Fannin, but was solid overall.

- NT Khyiris Tonga continued his strong play with an RB screen stuff and two bull rush pressures with some strong work versus double teams. DTs Joshua Farmer (batted shovel pass) and Cory Durden (T/E pick pressure) were also solid in their snaps. They continue to be stout interior run-stopping depth with dirty work reps against the run every week.

- LB Jahlani Tavai had some nice moments on this film with a run stuff and a screen TFL where he pressed and played through a perimeter block to tackle Njoku. Tavai has adjusted well to this defense, albeit in a limited role.

- S Jaylinn Hawkins made an outstanding grab on his interception, where he plastered downfield to WR Isaiah Bond playing the deep-half in a cover-two scheme. Hawkins also filled nicely against the run, boxing the edge and filling the backside/cutback lanes in duo – a solid return.

- S Craig Woodson wasn't around the action much, which is probably a good thing for a free safety, but he allowed an 11-yard touchdown to Njoku in garbage time. Woodson was in a good position to make a play on the ball, but Njoku made the catch. Woodson did have two run stuffs.

- LB Marte Mapu got legally picked on a 19-yard shallow crosser to Fannin on the Browns opening drive. Mapu was in man coverage on Fannin, and Cleveland had a mesh-style concept where Mapu had to run through some traffic. Ideally, Mapu recognizes Bond's intersecting route faster so that he can run behind the Browns tight end to avoid the pick. Then, Mapu would just need to accelerate at the catch point and make the tackle short of the sticks in a trail technique – that's all about awareness.

- QB Pressures: Jennings (sack), Williams (6), Barmore (5), Chaisson (3), Landry (3), Tonga (2), Spillane (2), Ponder (1), Durden (1). Run Stops: Spillane (3), Woodson (2), one each (Gonzalez, Barmore, Williams, Jones, Tavai, Davis).

- Coverage: Spillane (6/5/60 yards/INT), Jones (6/5/23 yards/PBU), Mapu (1/1/19 yards), Woodson (1/1/11 yards/TD), Gibbens (2/2/8 yards), Tavai (2/2/6 yards), Elliss (1/1/4 yards), Hawkins (3/1/4 yards/INT), Gonzalez (7/2/3 yards/PBU), Davis (1/0/0 yards), team (1/18 yards/TD).

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer