Dillon Gabriel falls to Drake Maye and acknowledges his level

Dillon Gabriel and Drake Maye are writing two very different stories this season. While Maye is emerging as the new face of the New England Patriots with a strong 6-2 start, Gabriel is facing a storm of criticism as the Cleveland Browns drop to a troubling 2-6. Their latest chapter came in a 32-13 loss to the Patriots, where the gap between both quarterbacks was hard to ignore.

According to TheSportsRush, Dillon Gabriel didn’t hesitate to praise his rival after the game. “Yeah, he’s been playing at a really high level this year,” he said quickly during the postgame press conference. The compliment was brief but clear. On the field, though, Gabriel struggled to move the ball. He threw two interceptions and managed just 156 passing yards, despite connecting for two touchdowns.

A standout performance from Maye

The Patriots’ defense and Drake Maye took full advantage of Gabriel’s conservative approach and lack of deep passing threats. Meanwhile, the debate over whether Shedeur Sanders should get a shot as the Browns’ starter is gaining momentum. Head coach Kevin Stefanski, however, reaffirmed that Dillon Gabriel will continue to get “more opportunities.”

Dillon Gabriel is NOT an NFL QB. I don’t understand why they continue to roll him out over Shedeur Sanders.

This should be Gabriel’s last game as the #Browns starter.. pic.twitter.com/9iLGI1ZnkG

— Larry Foster (@LarryFosterNFL) October 26, 2025

On the other side, Drake Maye delivered another sharp performance: 282 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, completing 18 of 24 passes. Most notably, Maye became just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to record over 200 passing yards and a passer rating above 100 in seven consecutive games in a single season. Only Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, and Patrick Mahomes had done it before.

Streak continues

Drake Maye is only the second quarterback to achieve that streak in his second year, following Mahomes. With upcoming games against the Falcons, Jets, Bengals, and Giants, Maye’s run could continue before the highly anticipated matchup with the Bills on December 14. As for Dillon Gabriel, the Browns also face tough opponents in the coming weeks.

Drake Maye joins an elite QB club with 200+ passing yards & 100+ passer rating in 7+ consecutive games within a season at any age:

🏆 Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2020)
🏆 Tom Brady (2007)
🏆 Peyton Manning (2004)
🏆 Patrick Mahomes (2018) pic.twitter.com/lhDTNcHzm0

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) October 26, 2025

Statistically, Drake Maye has passed for over 2,000 yards, thrown 15 touchdowns, and added two rushing scores. While some fans are already drawing comparisons to Tom Brady, neither Maye nor head coach Mike Vrabel are entertaining that narrative. Their focus remains on getting the Patriots back to the playoffs after three uneven seasons.

Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel must prove he can lead the Browns and clean up his mistakes. The next game will be crucial in determining whether he stays under center or if the team turns to other options. In the NFL, praise alone isn’t enough—Gabriel knows results are what truly matter.