Browns Legend Myles Garrett Admits the Truth: “Without the Refs, the Score Probably Wouldn’t Be 32-13” — Points Out How Refs Tried to Protect Browns and Tilt the Game Against New England

Boston, Foxborough – October 27, 2025

After a heavy 13–32 defeat to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, defensive star Myles Garrett – captain and icon of the Cleveland Browns – surprised the public with a candid and respectful statement toward the opponent.

“Without the refs, the Patriots probably would have beaten us even worse,” Garrett said, his voice mixing laughter and a sigh. “They controlled the entire game. The refs were probably just trying to keep the scoreboard from looking too lopsided. But the reality is we were completely dominated.”

Garrett pointed to several controversial situations that stirred public outrage. In the second half, when Drake Maye threw a deep ball to Stefon Diggs, CB Denzel Ward clearly tugged the jersey and hit the facemask, but the refs didn’t throw a flag – a missed defensive pass interference that cost the Patriots a first down. Right after that, in the third quarter, Patriots DE Harold Landry was flagged for roughing the passer after a clean sack on QB Dillon Gabriel, giving the Browns +15 yards and a touchdown on that drive. Garrett admitted: “I saw it from the other side of the field, that wasn’t a penalty. They were just trying to keep the game from being too one-sided.”

However, instead of criticizing, Garrett gave plenty of praise to the Patriots – the team he called “the standard of discipline.”
“Drake Maye was really impressive. He’s not afraid of pressure, reads the game like a veteran. Their defense moves like a machine – fast, precise, and almost error-free. That’s something every other team, including us, needs to learn from,” Garrett added.

Despite the loss, Garrett affirmed the Browns haven’t lost spirit: “We were beaten by a better team – and the refs couldn’t change that. The Patriots are so good that whether you try to help them or go against them, they still find a way to win.”

The sincere admission from Myles Garrett – a former Defensive Player of the Year – earned admiration from Browns fans. In a turbulent season, he showed the difference of a true leader: daring to speak the truth, and knowing how to respect those who are better.