Browns lose Mayfield, then the game

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — A right knee injury to Baker Mayfield left the Browns with no hope of beating the New England Patriots.

Their hopes for the rest of the season took a big blow, too.

The Browns were coming off a win over Cincinnati. But they fell behind 31-7 with Mayfield in the game, and then completely collapsed after he left and New England won 45-7.

Mayfield limped off the field after taking a pair of hits in the third quarter.

The departure of their quarterback was a demoralizing way to complete a week in which the Browns finally rid themselves of receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and lost running back Nick Chubb to a positive COVID-19 test.

The Browns (5-5) have dropped four of their last six and haven’t won at New England since 1992, when Bill Belichick was their coach.