Four days before Halloween, it's only appropriate that the Boogeymen made their presence felt early in Sunday's Patriots-Browns game.
On Cleveland's fifth offensive snap of the game, Browns lineman Joel Bitonio kicked the ball out of Nick Chubb's hand, and Dont'a Hightower scooped up the loose ball and scampered 26 yards for the score.
The touchdown was the fourth scored by the New England defense this season. Unbelievably, the Patriots have only allowed three offensive touchdowns to this point.
DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS SCORED
- Jamie Collins 69-yard INT return vs. Dolphins
- Stephon Gilmore 54-yard INT return vs. Dolphins
- Kyle Van Noy 22-yard fumble return vs. Giants
- Dont'a Hightower 26-yard fumble return vs. Browns
OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS ALLOWED
- Josh Allen 1-yard run for Bills
- Steven Sims 65-yard run for Redskins
- Golden Tate 64-yard reception for Giants
Even when the Patriots defense doesn't score, it still wreaks havoc on opposing offenses. Later in the first quarter, Nick Chubb broke free for a 44-yard gain... only to have Jonathan Jones punch the ball loose and Devin McCourty pounce on it.
And on Cleveland's very next offensive snap, Baker Mayfield pitched the ball directly into the waiting arms of Lawrence Guy — a turnover that led to a Julian Edelman touchdown two plays later.
Three turnovers on three straight defensive snaps. No wonder they're called the Boogeymen.
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