Kevin Stefanski said the sideline confusion involving quarterback Shedeur Sanders was just a communication error after the Cleveland Browns‘ 31-3 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, December 14.
The head coach described the wristband incident as a simple “miscommunication” after the issue began early when Sanders struggled to relay a play and sprinted to the sideline for guidance.
A delay-of-game penalty followed, and a wristband swap added to the confusion. Stefanski said it was minor and resolved quickly before clarifying postgame that the Browns did not have incorrect plays loaded.
The coach emphasized the issue was fixed quickly and did not reflect overall offensive dysfunction, noting it was far less chaotic than it appeared on broadcasts, and Sanders supported that explanation.
“The card just fell out,” the 23-year-old Sanders said. Despite this, the moment symbolized a rough day. Cleveland never found a rhythm, and the small mistake was magnified during a game the Bears dominated from start to finish.
Chicago controlled the game early, winning 31-3 at Soldier Field as Caleb Williams threw two touchdown passes to DJ Moore, while D’Andre Swift added two rushing scores. The Browns struggled against pressure, committing three turnovers and scoring just a field goal.
Sanders, confirmed as Cleveland‘s starter for the remainder of the season, completed 18 of 35 passes for 177 yards with three interceptions and was sacked five times for 35 yards as the loss dropped the Browns to 3-11.
Coming off a four-touchdown performance in Week 14, he struggled against the Bears, who limited Cleveland to 192 total yards and just seven first downs in a lopsided defeat. Next, the Browns face Josh Allen and the playoff-bound Buffalo Bills in Week 16.
Sanders will get another learning opportunity, but the challenge of guiding a struggling offense against an elite opponent remains a significant hurdle for the rookie quarterback.
Sanders’ teammate Myles Garrett closes in on NFL sack record
Meanwhile, Myles Garrett added 1.5 sacks on Sunday, bringing his total to 21.5 for the season and leaving him just one shy of the all-time record shared by Michael Strahan and TJ Watt.
He reached the mark while visibly wincing and pointing to his hip during Cleveland‘s 31-3 loss to the Bears in Week 15. Despite the discomfort, Garrett continued to play through the pain as the Browns fell to 3-11, tied for the fourth-worst record in the NFL.
“That’s how I always am. I am gonna play through pretty much anything,” Garrett said. “But I tweaked my hip or something in that area, so I was feeling that for the rest of the game.
“But, like I said, going to continue to push through because we still have got something to play for.
“As long as there’s games on the schedule, I am going to go out there and try to win.”
His season has been unusual, anchoring one of the league’s top defenses while his team continues to struggle offensively and in the standings overall, as Garrett remains one of the few bright spots in an otherwise miserable season for the Browns.
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