As the Cleveland Browns gear up to host the Buffalo Bills this week, the playoff picture may already be out of reach for Cleveland, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to play for. The Browns are deep into evaluation mode, and while the wins haven’t piled up, there’s still one undeniable strength that gives them a fighting chance every Sunday: their defense. It’s fast, physical, and disruptive-exactly the kind of unit that can throw a wrench into even the most explosive offenses.
The Bills, meanwhile, have had their share of road stumbles this season. Three of their four losses have come away from Highmark Stadium, including head-scratchers against a backup-led Houston Texans team and two squads already eliminated from the postseason-the Dolphins and Falcons. That inconsistency away from home opens the door, even if just a crack, for the Browns to play spoiler.
If Cleveland is going to pull off the upset, they’ll need big-time performances from their top playmakers. Here are five Browns to keep an eye on in this matchup:
QB Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders is still early in his NFL journey, but he’s already shown flashes of what made him one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in the 2025 draft. After leading the Browns to a win in his first career start against the Raiders, he followed it up with a 364-yard, three-touchdown performance in a narrow loss to the Titans. That’s the good.
The bad? Last week’s 31-3 loss to the Bears was a harsh reminder of how steep the learning curve can be in this league. Sanders threw three interceptions, took five sacks, and looked every bit the rookie against a defense that brought pressure and confusion.
This week, he’s facing a Bills defense that specializes in disguising coverages and making life miserable for young quarterbacks. Expect Buffalo to throw a variety of pre-snap looks at Sanders-then flip the script post-snap.
The goal is to create hesitation, force mistakes, and capitalize on any indecision. If Sanders can process quickly and protect the football, he gives Cleveland a shot.
But if he holds onto the ball too long-something he’s prone to do while trying to extend plays-it could be a long afternoon.
RB Quinshon Judkins
Quinshon Judkins has quietly become the workhorse of this Browns offense. The rookie leads the team in carries (222), rushing yards (805), and rushing touchdowns (7). His 3.6 yards per carry might not jump off the page, but context matters-especially when you consider the state of Buffalo’s run defense.
The Bills have given up 5.4 yards per rush this season (second-worst in the league) and a league-high 23 rushing touchdowns. That’s a vulnerable front, and Judkins is the kind of physical, downhill runner who can take advantage if Cleveland’s offensive line can create even modest lanes.
That said, don’t be surprised if Buffalo crowds the box early, daring Sanders to beat them through the air. If they can bottle up Judkins on early downs and force Cleveland into third-and-long situations, it plays right into their defensive strength. But if Judkins gets rolling and keeps the chains moving, the Browns could control the tempo and keep Josh Allen on the sideline-exactly what they’ll need to do to stay in this game.
TE Harold Fanin
Another rookie, another key piece of Cleveland’s offensive puzzle. With David Njoku banged up, Harold Fanin has stepped into a bigger role-and he’s making the most of it.
Over the past two games, Fanin has been targeted 25 times, hauling in 15 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. That’s impressive usage, especially for a rookie tight end.
It makes sense, too. Rookie quarterbacks often lean on their tight ends as safety valves, and Fanin has become that for Sanders.
But this week, he’s facing a defense that’s been elite at shutting down tight ends. Buffalo has allowed just 38 catches for 459 yards and two touchdowns to the position all season-best in the league.
If the Bills can take Fanin away and force Sanders to throw outside the numbers-where timing, anticipation, and arm strength are tested-they’ll be in good shape. But if Fanin can find soft spots in the zone or beat linebackers in man coverage, he could be the security blanket Sanders needs to stay on schedule.
DE Myles Garrett
There’s no sugarcoating it-Myles Garrett is a problem. A big one.
He leads the NFL with 21.5 sacks and is just 1.5 away from breaking the single-season sack record. He’s also racked up an absurd 32 tackles for loss.
For comparison, Buffalo’s leader in that category has eight. That’s not a typo.
Garrett is a game-wrecker, plain and simple. And he doesn’t need four quarters to make his presence felt. One play, one snap, one moment-that’s all it takes for him to flip the script.
The Bills know this. They’ve faced elite edge rushers before and have used chip blocks and extra protection to neutralize threats like T.J.
Watt. Expect more of the same this week.
But there’s a wrinkle: starting left tackle Dion Dawkins has been dealing with an illness, and if he’s not 100%, or worse, can’t go, that’s a massive red flag. A backup tackle trying to block Garrett one-on-one is a mismatch Buffalo can’t afford to test.
The key for Buffalo will be to keep Garrett from making the play-the strip sack, the third-down stop, the drive-killing pressure. Because if they don’t, Garrett might not just break records-he might swing the game.
LB Carson Schwesinger
Rounding out this list is yet another rookie, and he might be the most versatile of the bunch. Carson Schwesinger has been a tackling machine this year, leading the Browns with 133 total stops. But he’s more than just a volume tackler-he’s a rangy, athletic linebacker who can cover, blitz, and spy.
And this week, he’ll need to do all three. Whether it’s tracking tight ends, sniffing out James Cook III in the run game, or mirroring Josh Allen on designed QB runs and scrambles, Schwesinger is going to be in the middle of the action.
Buffalo’s offensive coordinator Joe Brady will likely test the rookie early and often. Expect play-action, misdirection, and route combinations that try to manipulate Schwesinger’s eyes and instincts.
If he bites on the wrong key, it could open up big plays. But if he holds his ground and reacts quickly, he could be the X-factor in slowing down Allen’s improvisation game.
He’s already shown he can make splash plays-two interceptions on the year-and if he adds another one to his resume this week, it wouldn’t be shocking.
Final Thoughts
The Browns may be out of the playoff hunt, but this game still matters-for the future of the franchise, for the development of their young core, and for the chance to knock off a contender. Buffalo can’t afford to overlook a team with this much defensive talent and a handful of rookies who are learning how to compete at the highest level.
If the Browns can get solid play from Sanders, a steady ground game from Judkins, and a few game-changing moments from Garrett and Schwesinger, they might just make things interesting. And in a league where momentum swings fast and nothing is guaranteed, that’s more than enough reason to tune in.