Shedeur Sanders SHINES in Debut: Browns SILENCE future QB1

At Allegiant Stadium, after the match ended, Shedeur Sanders stopped to celebrate with the fans awaiting his exit. He raised his left wrist, showing his iconic watch gesture, while the cheers of the crowd resonated. Then, he formed a heart with his hands before heading to the tunnel, where he met his father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, for a hug.In his first NFL start, Sanders had an impressive performance, completing 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, in the Browns’ 24-10 victory over the Raiders.Sanders, who became the 42nd quarterback to start a game for the Browns since 1999, also managed to be the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first start in the NFL since Eric Zeier in 1995. This victory ended a 17-game winless streak for the Browns when a quarterback made his first start in the league.The victory also broke a streak of 13 consecutive losses by the Browns as visitors, which was the longest active streak in the NFL and the second longest in franchise history.After the game, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski did not commit to naming a starting quarterback for the next home game against the San Francisco 49ers. Stefanski had previously said that rookie Dillon Gabriel would start again once he cleared the NFL concussion protocol. Gabriel did not play on Sunday, but he returned to practice on Friday on a limited basis.Stefanski said after Friday’s practice that Gabriel had not yet cleared concussion protocol.

I’m not going to get into that. Obviously, I’m proud of Sanders. I’m proud of this offense and there are many things to learn. But I’ll worry about today.

Kevin Stefanski

When asked later about his process for naming the starting quarterback, Stefanski responded:

I will always take my time and do what is best for the football team.

Kevin Stefanski

Sanders’ performance was notably different from his NFL debut in the second half of the Browns’ Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens, after Gabriel was checked for a concussion at halftime and was out for the rest of the game. In the 23-16 home loss to Baltimore, Sanders completed 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and one interception.Stefanski named Sanders the starter the previous Wednesday. With a game plan adapted to him and a week of practice with the first-team offense, his first since he was drafted by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, Sanders showed greater comfort a week after his debut. He was only sacked once after suffering two sacks in the second half.

Everyone starts in different places, and as I said, just because I didn’t have the summer repetitions, just because I wasn’t in the best situation to prepare to go out and execute from a summer point of view, that’s life. Not everyone is in the best situation, but it’s no excuse. You have to go out and act. There is no choice or question.

Sanders

Nobody cares if this was a week of preparation. Who cares? Many people want to see me fail, and that’s not going to happen.

Sanders

Sanders quickly demonstrated the accuracy and playmaking ability that characterized him during his successful college career at Jackson State and Colorado.In the Browns’ fourth offensive series, Sanders avoided pressure from the Raiders on third down and 8 yards, completing a 52-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond. This play marked the longest pass of the season for the Browns at that point. The pass set up the second of two rushing touchdowns by rookie running back Quinshon Judkins and gave Cleveland a 14-0 lead at the start of the second quarter.

There aren’t many players in the league who can make that throw.

Myles Garrett

Defensive end Myles Garrett said, whose three sacks on Sunday gave him a career-high 18 sacks this season and surpassed his previous franchise record. Garrett is now five sacks away from breaking the NFL record in a single season shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.

So, that was an incredible play. I hope he can keep growing and developing from making plays like that and moving forward.

Myles Garrett

added Garrett.Later, Sanders threw his first touchdown in the NFL in the fourth quarter, a short pass that rookie running back Dylan Sampson turned into a 66-yard run to the end zone, giving the Browns a 24-3 lead.

I think we saw a lot of what Shedeur does well on the field today.

Stefanski

“Stefanski said. “I thought that by making that [completion to Bond] off-schedule when we were overmatched in protection, get the ball down the field. So, there’s a lot he’s doing well, and there’s a lot he’s working on, which is what I appreciate about young guys who want to improve.”Sanders, selected in the 144th draft pick, began his NFL career in Cleveland as the fourth quarterback, behind Gabriel, a third-round pick, as well as veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Sanders began the regular season as the third QB, Pickett was traded to the Raiders before the roster cut deadline, and went on to be the backup after the Browns traded Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals on October 7.Gabriel’s injury finally opened the door for Sanders to make his first start, an opportunity he told CBS Sports in a pre-game interview that he hoped to use to show Cleveland “I am who you’ve been looking for”.”I’m grateful to be here, to have an opportunity, to be able to go out and play, to go out and start,” Sanders said. “You don’t know how surreal that feeling is, knowing that you have the responsibility of the Browns organization on your shoulders, having all the fans, everyone here arguing with each other online and everything. Everyone has their differences about me. It is what it is, but I’m grateful to be here today, and I hope we’ve cleared things up a bit. But, there’s a long way to go. It’s allowing me to grow, and I know there’s only one way and the only way is up.”