The Browns melted down in brutal fashion, turning the ball over on three straight offensive snaps against the Patriots. First, Nick Chubb took a handoff and fumbled after getting kicked in the face by one of his own linemen. On the very next play, Chubb broke through the defense and looked set to redeem himself, but then fumbled again after a punch-out by Jonathan Jones. His body language after the turnover said it all—he gave up on the play as the rest of the players scrambled for the ball behind him.
After the Patriots failed to capitalize on the second turnover, the Browns snapped the ball again, this time calling a bizarre trick play that made no sense after two straight fumbles. It ended with a tipped pass and an interception, which the Patriots quickly turned into a touchdown. Baker Mayfield’s look of disbelief summed up the entire three-play stretch. The Browns tried to do too much and completely unraveled, gifting New England a commanding lead. Once again, Cleveland reminded everyone that no matter the roster or hype, they still find ways to collapse.