Browns’ butterfingers help give Belichick sweet win
This one slipped out of Cleveland’s hands. On three plays in a row. The Browns committed turnovers on backtobacktoback plays in the first quarter on a rainy New England Sunday, leading to two touchdowns by the Patriots that turned a threepoint lead into a runaway and a 2713 victory for the defending Super Bowl champions (80).
Tom Brady threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns to help New England head coach Bill Belichick earn his 300th career NFL victory.
Belichick was 39 years old when he coached the Browns to a win over the New England Patriots in 1991 — his first as an NFL head coach.
Belichick sits behind Don Shula (347) and George Halas (324) on the NFL’s alltime list.
Cleveland head coach Freddie Kitchens lamented his team’s mistakes. “Everything that we said we couldn’t do and win the game, we did. And it all happened in the first quarter,” said Kitchens, who mentioned his team’s 13 penalties — six for false starts. “That’s what’s getting us beat, turnovers and penalties.”
Nick Chubb ran for 131 yards, but he also fumbled on consecutive plays before Baker Mayfield was intercepted on a shovel pass to put Cleveland (25) in a hole it couldn’t get out of against the dominant New England defense.
It’s the first time a team has committed turnovers on three straight plays from scrimmage since the Dolphins did it in 2012 against the Texans. Chubb did not fumble at all in 192 carries as a rookie last year, but he has fumbled three times in the past two games.
“I’m just going through the spell right now,” he said. “The guys had my back. I was down. I was down bad. It was two in a row, and that’s just something that I don’t do often, so it was kind of new to me. I feel like I let the team down, but the guys and the coaches had my back.”
The Patriots have forced a leaguehigh 25 turnovers this season.
Safety and captain Devin McCourty said they come into games expecting to force two or three turnovers.
“It’s an awareness to hunt the football,” he said. “As a defense, we all know that.”
Chargers missed a 41-yard 17, Bears field 16: goal Eddy for Piñeiro host Chicago as time expired and Los Angeles prevailed. The Bears (3-4) took possession at their 35 with 1:33 remaining and had a chance to win it after driving to the Chargers’ 21. Chicago had quarterback Mitchell Trubisky take a knee with about 40 seconds left rather than try to get closer to the goal line. And Piñeiro, who hit an upright on a miss earlier,