The Cleveland Browns dropped a heartbreaker to the New Orleans Saints 23-22 in overtime, but it was Shedeur Sanders’s dramatic first start of the season,and his post-game apology for pre-game comments,that has everyone talking. Sanders got the nod out of necessity after Deshaun Watson landed in concussion protocol, and what a debut it was, for better or worse.
A Rollercoaster Ride For Sanders’ First Start
On paper, Sanders’s stat line looks solid: 19-of-31 for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions in a brutal overtime loss. But those numbers barely tell the story. This was a game of wild swings, and Sanders was right in the middle of it. He delivered a clutch 64-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to KC Concepcion in the fourth quarter, showing real composure. Then, he engineered a field-goal drive, even taking a massive hit from Chase Young but still firing a strike to Jerry Jeudy to set up Andre Szmyt’s kick that forced overtime. And in overtime itself, he threw a touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr.!
However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The first half was anything but ideal, with Sanders throwing for an ugly 38 yards as the Saints scored just three points. There was that head-scratching moment on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line where he appeared to turn the wrong direction on a handoff, leading to Quinshon Judkins getting stuffed. That kind of mistake is brutal for a struggling offense on the road. But credit where it’s due: he really picked it up in the second half, looking much more comfortable, including unleashing a deep ball to Denzel Boston who made an incredible adjustment and high-pointing catch to set up a go-ahead field goal in the third quarter.
The Apology That Stirred The Pot
Even before kickoff, Sanders was already making headlines, discussing what he “saw on film” regarding the Saints defense. After the game, with the loss fresh, he made sure to address those pre-game remarks. He straight up denied trying to shade the Saints and offered an apology “if my words were taken out of context.” You gotta wonder what kind of pressure he was under, stepping in for Watson, to feel like he needed to clear the air right after a gut-wrenching overtime defeat. It just adds another layer to an already wild first start.
What This Means For the Browns’ Playoff Race
This wasn’t just any game, this was Sanders’ first start of his second season. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, and while he suited up in eight games as a rookie with seven starts, his numbers weren’t exactly sparkling, completing 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Even his 2026 preseason, where he went 15-of-22 for 153 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, showed some growing pains. He’s still only 24 years old.
This season, he battled Watson for the starting job in training camp, with Watson ultimately getting the nod. Watson, in his first eight starts this year, completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,806 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions, leading the Browns to a 5-3 record and putting them squarely in the AFC playoff race. Now, with Watson sidelined, every snap Sanders takes carries immense weight for a team that’s fighting for a spot.
So, where do the Browns go from here? With Watson sidelined and Sanders now having a full, albeit messy, start under his belt, every snap is under the microscope. Browns fans are holding their breath, wondering if they’ll see more of that clutch fourth-quarter magic or the first-half struggles in his next outing. This team is still right in the AFC playoff race, and they need answers at QB fast.
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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