Patriots vs. Browns Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest NFL Preseason Odds for Thursday, August 27th
The New England Patriots visit the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, August 27 for the preseason finale at Huntington Bank Field. With both teams expected to sit their most important quarterbacks and offensive starters, scoring opportunities could be difficult to find throughout the night.
Peter Alexis - August 27, 2026, 6:35 PM EDT
4 Minute ReadPatriots vs. Browns Prediction: Will Shedeur, Browns Keep Struggling on Thursday Night in Final Preseason Game?
New England and Cleveland kick off at 8:00 PM ET, with the Patriots favored by 2.5 points and an unusually low total of 35.5. New England is 1-0-1 this preseason, while Cleveland remains winless at 0-2 and has scored only 17 combined points.
The Patriots are coming off a remarkable 2025 season in which they finished 14-3, won the AFC and reached the Super Bowl before falling 29-13 to Seattle. Cleveland went just 5-12, missed the playoffs for a second straight season and finished 31st in the NFL at only 16.4 points per game.
Neither side has much reason to expose its most important offensive pieces Thursday. Drake Maye is expected to sit for New England, while Cleveland has already named Deshaun Watson its regular-season starter and will rest both Watson and Shedeur Sanders. That leaves Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green to handle the Browns' quarterback work.
Patriots vs. Browns Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Thursday, August 27th, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- How to Watch: Prime Video
Patriots vs. Browns Odds
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Patriots vs. Browns Prediction
Cleveland has already struggled badly to generate offense with better players on the field. The Browns lost their opener 34-10 to Chicago before getting hammered 31-7 by Buffalo. Even with Sanders and Watson both seeing action against the Bills, Cleveland produced one touchdown and was held scoreless after halftime.
New England will lean on Tommy DeVito and rookie Behren Morton. DeVito has been solid, throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns without an interception through two games, while Morton has added 195 yards and another score. The Patriots beat Philadelphia 24-21 last weekend after opening with a 13-13 tie against Indianapolis.
The concern for an over ticket is how much offensive talent will surround those quarterbacks. Mike Vrabel has emphasized keeping his top players healthy, and TreVeyon Henderson has also been dealing with an ankle issue. Much of Thursday's game should feature fringe receivers, reserve offensive linemen and players competing primarily for practice-squad positions.
Cleveland presents an even bigger concern. Gabriel and Green are fighting for depth-chart positioning, but neither has the supporting cast or offensive incentive to turn this into an aggressive shootout. With Watson and Sanders both protected, a Browns offense that already averages 8.5 points per preseason game could struggle to contribute enough to push the total upward.
A number of 35.5 is low for a reason. The quarterback plans point toward a conservative finale, Cleveland has shown almost no scoring ability and New England has little reason to expose its best offensive personnel. A game in the 20-13 range is more realistic than a sudden offensive breakout.
Patriots vs. Browns Pick
- Pick: Under 35.5 Total Points (-110) Check out these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Preseason handicapping is about the players actually taking the snaps rather than regular-season roster strength. Buffalo has the better-performing backup quarterback group, has won both exhibitions comfortably and could mix in more regular contributors than Pittsburgh. Laying less than a field goal at home is worth the price.
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