The Cleveland Browns absolutely stumbled against the Buffalo Bills, falling 31-7 in preseason action where their potential starting quarterbacks combined for a measly 109 yards and two interceptions. They were 1.5-point underdogs, and man, they truly lived up to that billing, struggling big time to find any footing in Cleveland.
Sanders’ Rollercoaster Start
Shedeur Sanders got the starting nod this week, playing through the first half. He definitely gave us a flash of something early on. After Buffalo opened the scoring, Sanders led an 11-play drive that capped off with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Luke Floriea, evening things up at seven. That’s the kind of drive you want to see. But then, after three straight punts, Sanders threw a pass that was picked off by Damar Hamlin. The Bills quickly piled on another score to take a 14-7 lead into halftime. Last season, Sanders appeared in eight games, throwing for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns, showing some promise. But this week, that turnover was a momentum killer, plain and simple.
Watson’s Wobbly Return
The veteran Deshaun Watson took over after halftime, a flip from last week’s sequencing where he started. And, wow, it was rough out of the gate. Watson gained negative-one yard on three plays before a quick punt. Things didn’t get better; he threw an interception under pressure with just over three minutes left in the third quarter, which directly set up the Bills’ third touchdown of the game. He finished 5 of 12 for just 35 yards and that crucial pick. Last season saw the Browns finish last in the AFC North at 5-12, playing both Sanders and Dillon Gabriel at quarterback. Now, with Watson back from injury, this competition between the 10th-year veteran and the second-year player is on, but these early performances are not looking good for either side. Gabriel stepped in late in the fourth after Watson and the Browns turned the ball over on downs, with the Bills putting the finishing touches on what the source called a “dominant win.”
Head coach Todd Monken still has not named a starter, which, after this performance, is probably a good thing. The Browns will close out their preseason at home against the New England Patriots this Thursday. This final game is absolutely massive, because Monken has to make a call, and right now, the future of this offense is looking murky. It’s time for one of these guys to step up and seize the job, because 109 combined yards? That just ain’t gonna cut it when the real games begin.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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