After a long time, Cleveland Browns fans are smiling again. They aren’t exactly dreaming big, but at least they’re happy with Shedeur Sanders’ debut, which went well, and with the team securing its third win of the season. The season is practically lost, but from here on out, the Browns’ games will at least be fun to watch.
After Dillon Gabriel failed to clear the concussion protocol last week, Shedeur Sanders got the chance to make his first NFL start on the road against one of the teams that shut the door on him during the Draft – the Las Vegas Raiders. And like something out of a movie script, Shedeur had a great afternoon and ended up beating them.
Shedeur Sanders battled through several tough stretches and even threw an interception. But it’s important to remember he had only one week of practice with the first team – something he hadn’t had once since the preseason began. Even so, he responded when it mattered and finished by connecting on a 66-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Sampson.
The Cleveland Browns have an elite defense
There’s no doubt that one of the strengths of the Kevin Stefanski era has been the defense. Despite all the Browns’ issues, that unit has been one of the best in the NFL, especially in the years they reached the playoffs – 2020 and 2023 – led by one of the league’s best defenders, Myles Garrett.
On Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, the Browns’ defensive line simply dominated the Raiders’ offensive line, totaling 10 quarterback sacks. Three of them came from Myles Garrett, who now has 17 this season – absolutely incredible numbers. The Texas A&M product is the third player in NFL history to record 17 sacks in the first 11 games of a season.
During a segment on The 92.3 The Fan Cleveland, Barstool Tate, a Browns analyst, couldn’t understand why the team waited so long to give Shedeur Sanders a chance when the Browns have a Super Bowl-caliber defense – especially along the defensive line: “We truly have a Super Bowl-caliber defensive line… How did the #Browns not give Shedeur Sanders a shot until they were 2-8?”
Now it’s Shedeur Sanders’ opportunity. He has been officially named the starter for the next game against the San Francisco 49ers. It’s in his hands to become the leader of this team and prevent the Browns from looking for another quarterback next season. It’s worth noting that the Browns hold a pair of first-round picks in the upcoming Draft.
Read the full article here
