The Cleveland Browns may be 3-8 for the season, but Shedeur Sanders‘ debut win shows he could be a catalyst for a late playoff surge with a 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in his first NFL start.
The 23-year-old quarterback demonstrated poise and potential under pressure as Sanders passed for 209 yards and one touchdown, snapping a 0-17 streak of starters losing for the team dating back to Eric Zeier in 1995.
The historic victory gives Cleveland a glimpse of hope in a tough AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
But can they make it to the NFL Playoffs with Coach Prime‘s son under center?
Mathematically possible, practically implausible
While the win is significant, it barely changes Cleveland‘s postseason outlook.
Entering Week 12, their playoff probability was just 0.1 percent, and winning the division remains virtually impossible with the Ravens now 6-5 and three wins ahead.
Ironically, the victory may do the franchise more harm than good as it drastically reduced the Browns‘ chances of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, dropping from 14 percent to 3.9 percent.
While fans may lament the lost draft opportunity, Sanders‘ win ultimately provides a morale boost the team desperately needed in what has been a miserable year at the Huntington Bank Field in Ohio.
Whilst Shedeur got the plaudits for his efforts, Cleveland‘s defense also delivered a standout performance by giving him the platform to take over in Nevada on Sunday night.
Myles Garrett recorded three of the team’s 10 sacks on Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, relieving pressure from Sanders and giving him the chance to make plays downfield while protecting the rookie signal-caller.
Sanders reacts to first win as Browns QB
Sanders had spent most of 2025 at the bottom of the depth chart despite being projected as a first-round pick but falling to the fifth round. He has only been the team’s QB2 since Joe Flacco was traded in October.
But on November 23, Sanders orchestrated a series of clutch plays that Cleveland had lacked all season, providing a much-needed spark with his dad, Deion, watching on from the stands.
With the pressure on him after finally getting the nod from Kevin Stefanski and the world watching one of the more intriguing NFL Draft enigmas of modern football, Sanders delivered – and he admitted the noise didn’t bother him.
“I’m not gonna lie, I felt very relaxed,” Shedeur said. “Very relaxed. And half of that comes from preparing, studying and knowing I got God on my side.
“So throughout all that, I had no worries. I didn’t feel nervous or anything before the game.”
Sanders has now been named the starter for the Week 13 clash with the San Francisco 49ers on November 30, despite Dillon Gabriel clearing the concussion protocol.
However, it’s unknown if Gabriel will get the chance to take the bulk of snaps again. But if Sanders stays under center, the Browns may have some hope of an unlikely challenge in AFC North.
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