Patriots' confidence soars in midst of 5-game win streak under 1st-year coach Mike Vrabel

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — It’s too early to know whether the New England Patriots have gotten back on track following the tumultuous end of Bill Belichick's coaching tenure and the failed one-year regime of successor Jerod Mayo.

But at 6-2 following Sunday’s 32-13 win over Cleveland and riding a five-game win streak that's the Patriots' longest since last qualifying for the playoffs in 2021, it has created confidence throughout the team facility that first-year coach Mike Vrabel believes is a positive sign.

“I don’t have expectations. We just have things that we want to try to focus on and improve on,” Vrabel said. “I think that they believe in themselves, that they believe that they’re going to make some plays, that they’re not really panicking, signs of complementary football and signs of preparation.”

It showed against the Browns when, despite allowing an opponent to score on its opening drive for the sixth time in eight games, the Patriots offense was able to reel off three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter to take control.

That was underscored by a defense that forced two turnovers and helped New England possess the ball for nearly 13 more minutes than Cleveland for the day.

“It’s just dope having that camaraderie and that unity as a team from both sides,” safety Jaylinn Hawkins said. “I feel like it’s special, man, and we can keep harping on that and keep growing.”

Despite being sacked six times by the Browns’ top-ranked defense, Drake Maye maintained the same command of the offense that he has shown throughout the winning streak. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. He also connected with seven receivers.

It didn’t wind up factoring into the final score, but the Patriots’ special teams unit couldn’t corral Browns kicker Andre Szmyt’s onside kick with 4:06 remaining. Szmyt got a perfect bounce to flutter out of the reach of tight end Austin Hooper and into hands of Gage Larvadain. It was only the second onside kick recovery by the kicking team all season in the NFL.

Stefon Diggs had only three catches for 14 yards. But one of them was a 1-yard touchdown catch, his first of the season. It ended his career-high, seven-game drought without a TD to open a season. The only other time he had a drought of even two games without recording a touchdown was his rookie season in 2015 with Minnesota.

Rookie left tackle Will Campbell was expecting a tough challenge opposite Browns All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett. He got it, allowing Garrett to beat him on two of his career-high five sacks. In each instance, the Patriots attempted to provide Campbell with some extra support via an extra chip block from tight end Hunter Henry. Both times it did little to slow Garrett.

“He’s a really good player. He beat me a few times and that is just part of the game,” Campbell said. “He gets paid a lot of money, and he got me a couple times. I just had to keep coming back and keep fighting, which is why we got the win.”

Defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga left in the second half with a knee injury and did not return.

177 — The Patriots rushed for a season-high 177 yards against Cleveland, following a 175-yard rushing performance at Tennessee the previous week. It's their first time with back-to-back games with at least 175 yards rushing since the 2020 season when they had 250 yards rushing against Las Vegas followed by 185 yards at Kansas City.

The Patriots host the Atlanta Falcons, losers of two straight, on Sunday.

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) flips the ball to running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) gets pas Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) in the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches from the sideline in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday in the first verdict from eight criminal trials over the martial law debacle that forced him out of office and other allegations.

Yoon was impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.

The most significant criminal charge against him alleges that his martial law enforcement amounted to a rebellion, and the independent counsel has requested the death sentence in the case that is to be decided in a ruling next month.

In Friday's case, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting.

Yoon has maintained he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament obstructing his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun said in the televised ruling that imposing “a grave punishment” was necessary because Yoon hasn’t shown remorse and has only repeated “hard-to-comprehend excuses.” The judge also restoring legal systems damaged by Yoon’s action was necessary.

Yoon, who can appeal the ruling, hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when the independent counsel demanded a 10-year prison term in the case, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.

Prison sentences in the multiple, smaller trials Yoon faces would matter if he is spared the death penalty or life imprisonment at the rebellion trial.

Park SungBae, a lawyer who specializes in criminal law, said there is little chance the court would decide Yoon should face the death penalty in the rebellion case. He said the court will likely issue a life sentence or a sentence of 30 years or more in prison.

South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997 and courts rarely hand down death sentences. Park said the court would take into account that Yoon’s decree didn’t cause casualties and didn’t last long, although Yoon hasn’t shown genuine remorse for his action.

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)