The Cleveland Browns even gave their fans a little more hope against the New England Patriots after ending the first quarter with a four-point lead. Even a touchdown conceded before halftime allowed for hope of a victory. However, the 21 points conceded in the third quarter were decisive in the 32-13 defeat on Sunday in Week 8 of the NFL.
With only 2-6 and a season practically compromised in terms of the playoffs, the pressure on Dillon Gabriel increased after another disastrous quarterback performance. The quarterback suffered an interception in the third quarter and granted a safety in the fourth quarter, leaving the Browns with no chance of a comeback.
Stefanski Ignores Pressure and Promises Gabriel Another Chance
Gabriel was widely praised for taking good care of the ball during his other three starts, but his performance collapsed disastrously this Sunday after halftime against the Patriots.
Shedeur Sanders was officially inactive for the game against the Patriots with “back pain,” but many Cleveland fans are suspicious about the backup QB’s possible lack of fitness. One of the most vocal critics of this controversial situation was Robert Griffin III, who vented on his X, stating that Sanders will start “only if Kevin Stefanski” is fired.
The only way Shedeur Sanders EVER gets a chance to be the starter in Cleveland is if Kevin Stefanski gets fired. pic.twitter.com/wn1mKxbN1Q
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 26, 2025
Gabriel can complete good short passes, and tight ends Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku could benefit more from this for the rest of the season. However, the Browns (who currently rank 31st in the PFSN Offense Impact metric with a 56.2 OFFi) are not making much progress offensively precisely because of the high predictability of their ground game, with defenses easily blocking their runs.
But even after Sunday’s crushing defeat, Stefanski assured reporters (according to Ian Rapoport) that Gabriel, selected only in the third draft round, will remain the Browns’ starting quarterback after the bye, offering support for the rookie facing many difficulties in the NFL.
#Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters the team will stick with QB Dillon Gabriel after the bye. https://t.co/3ynuSvUBdh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 26, 2025
The game against the Patriots exposed this difficulty, with only two completed passes to wide receivers (both to Jamari Thrash). Gabriel made a good impression in the offseason and gave some fans confidence in his ability to scan plays, a skill he acquired after extensive experience in college football.
On the other hand, his first NFL season shows that the rookie is still very limited as a passer. The interceptions he suffered and a safety that gave the Patriots two free points when he felt pressure in the pocket at the line of scrimmage showed that he is not ready for the next level, with mistakes that significantly increase questions about his real ability to process plays quickly.