Patriots-Browns Capsule
NEW ENGLAND (3-1) at CLEVELAND (0-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
OPENING LINE - Patriots by 10 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Patriots 3-1, Browns 1-3
SERIES RECORD - Browns lead 13-10
LAST MEETING - Patriots beat Browns 27-26, Dec. 8, 2013
LAST WEEK - Patriots lost 16-0 to Bills; Browns lost 31-20 to Redskins
AP PRO32 RANKING - Patriots No. 3, Browns No. 32
PATRIOTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (19), RUSH (3), PASS (28)
PATRIOTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (19), RUSH (15), PASS (20)
BROWNS OFFENSE - OVERALL (12), RUSH (1), PASS (25)
BROWNS DEFENSE - OVERALL (19), RUSH (15), PASS (20)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Patriots QB Tom Brady returns from four-game ''Deflategate'' suspension to make season debut. Brady fought league's ruling for more than year before finally accepting ban in July. League investigation determined he and Patriots intentionally underinflated footballs in 2015 AFC championship game. ... Patriots barely missed Brady until last week, when shut out at home by Bills. Patriots had not been blanked at home since 1993 and outcome could have them angrier than usual. ... Patriots are NFL-best 49-17 in October since 2000. ... With one win, Patriots coach Bill Belichick takes sole possession of fourth place on NFL's career list. He's tied with Curly Lambeau with 226 regular-season victories. Top three are: Don Shula (328), George Halas (318), Tom Landry (250). ... Belichick went 36-44 as Browns head coach from 1991-95. ... Brady's appearance will give him 17 seasons with one team, tying him for most by NFL QB with John Brodie (San Francisco) and Dan Marino (Miami). ... Brady enters 2016 season fifth on career yards list with 58,028. ... Brady tied with Peyton Manning with four seasons of 35 or more TDs. ... Brady is 5-1 against Browns. ... RB LeGarrette Blount ranks third in NFL with 352 yards rushing. ... TE Rob Gronkowski has 65 receiving TDs since 2010, most in NFL at position. ... League's lone winless team, Browns had chances last week, but done in by three straight turnovers in second half. ... Browns leading league in rushing yards (597) and average per carry (5.74). ... RB Isaiah Crowell is second in league with 386 yards, most in first four games for Cleveland since Hall of Famer Jim Brown (476) in 1965. ... Crowell (6.4) and Duke Johnson (6.2) are first Browns backs to rank 1-2 in league in average since Brown and Bobby Mitchell in 1958. ... WR Terrelle Pryor had his first TD reception last week, but was flagged 15 yards for celebration. ... Browns rookie QB Cody Kessler makes first start at home. ... Browns have been ravaged by injuries, losing seven starters since opener. Latest injury was C Austin Reiter, who tore knee ligament last week and is done for season. ... RG John Greco will return to center and make third start. He played guard last week after coach Hue Jackson benched Alvin Bailey following OVI arrest. ... K Cody Parkey made FGs from 45 and 51 yards last week after three misses against Miami on Sept. 25 in Cleveland debut. Fantasy Tip: Gronkowski had first catch of season after being slowed by hamstring issue. He's healthier and with Brady back, Gronk could be more of target, which may quiet fantasy owners chirping at him because he goes shopping.
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