Will Browns bench Dillon Gabriel for Shedeur Sanders after blowout loss to Patriots?

As the Cleveland Browns fell to 2-6 on the season via Sunday's 32-13 blowout loss at the New England Patriots (6-2), Cleveland fans posting on social media understandably wondered if head coach Kevin Stefanski would bench starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel in favor of fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders after the Browns' Week 9 bye. 

While speaking with reporters following the club's latest defeat, Stefanski suggested Gabriel will remain atop the depth chart for Cleveland's matchup at the New York Jets on Nov. 9. 

Browns willing to live with Dillon Gabriel's ups and downs?

"When I say look at everything, when you lose like this, you have to look at everything," Stefanski explained, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Every position, everything I’m doing. There’s just -- it’s frustrating for where we are as a team. Every position you have to look at. But let me say that with a young quarterback, you understand there’s going to be ups and downs."

Gabriel has gone 1-3 as Cleveland's QB1, and his lone victory occurred when the Miami Dolphins committed four turnovers at Cleveland's Huntington Bank Field in Week 7. Against the Patriots, Gabriel completed 21-of-35 passes for 156 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and one inexcusable fourth-quarter mistake that resulted in a safety.  

ESPN stats show that the Browns began Monday ranked 30th in the league with an average of 15.8 points scored per game for the season. Meanwhile, Sanders hasn't played against an opposing defense since the preseason wrapped up. He was inactive for the Patriots game after he picked up a back injury during the week. 

Myles Garrett defends Dillon Gabriel amid calls for Shedeur Sanders to play

Browns star pass-rusher Myles Garrett tallied five sacks in Sunday's defeat and later defended Gabriel amid calls from Cleveland fans for the club to see what Sanders can do.

"I see a young quarterback that’s fighting," Garrett said about Gabriel. "I see a young team that’s fighting all across the board. So we all got to help each other, and there’s no one on the outside who’s going to help us. There’s no one who’s going to come in with a magic cure-all. So we have to rally together and find the best way to win as a unit, as a team. ...We dug ourselves in this hole. So no, we got to keep on working to get out of it."

The Jets improved to 1-7 on the season when they notched a surprising 39-38 win at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Like the Browns, Gang Green will be on the bye in Week 9.