Browns Routed by Bears, But Shedeur Sanders Still Offers a Path Forward
The scoreboard wasn’t kind to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday - a 31-3 blowout loss to the Chicago Bears that marked their 11th defeat of the season. But at this point, wins and losses aren’t the story in Cleveland. What matters now is the future - and whether rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the one to lead it.
Sunday’s game, rough as it was, gave us a clearer picture of where things stand. Sanders threw three interceptions, was sacked five times, and finished with just 177 passing yards on 18-of-35 attempts.
On paper, it was the worst start of his young career. But if you watched the game - really watched it - there were flashes that told a different story.
The kind of flashes that make you think: maybe this is the guy. Maybe it’s time to build around him.
The Case for Building Around Sanders
Let’s be clear - this wasn’t a good day for Sanders statistically. But development isn’t always linear, and sometimes the most important data points come in the form of moments, not numbers. Sanders had a few of those moments on Sunday, even in the middle of a lopsided loss.
Take his two deep completions to Isaiah Bond, both over 40 yards. Those weren’t just big plays - they were NFL throws.
Velocity, touch, timing - all there. Then there was the play where Sanders, with a defender draped all over him, somehow delivered a strike to Harold Fannin Jr.
That’s the kind of toughness and poise you want to see from a young quarterback under siege.
But the throw that really stood out? Ironically, it was one of his interceptions.
Sanders delivered a perfectly placed ball to Jerry Jeudy in the end zone - a throw that should’ve been six. Instead, it bounced off Jeudy’s chest and into the hands of a defender.
It was a brutal result, but the process was spot-on. Sanders did his job.
The supporting cast didn’t.
And that’s really the story here.
Offensive Line and Receiver Issues Loom Large
Cleveland’s offensive line was a mess on Sunday, and not just because of injuries - though missing four starters certainly didn’t help. Sanders was under constant pressure, and the run game was virtually nonexistent. Outside of two scrambles by Sanders for 24 yards, the Browns managed just 26 rushing yards on 14 carries - a paltry 1.9 yards per attempt.
This isn’t just about backups filling in. The Browns’ starting offensive line has been inconsistent all year, and several key pieces are either aging or set to hit free agency.
It’s clear that bolstering the line has to be a top priority this offseason. With two first-round picks in the 2026 Draft, using one on a cornerstone offensive lineman feels like a no-brainer.
The receiver room isn’t in much better shape. Jeudy’s drop in the end zone was a microcosm of a group that’s struggled to consistently win and make plays.
Sanders needs a true No. 1 target - someone who can take pressure off him and stretch the field. That’s another area the Browns can address in the draft, and with the capital they’ve got, they’re in position to do it.
The Bigger Picture
It’s tempting to look at Sanders’ stat line and question whether he’s the answer. But context matters.
He’s a rookie playing behind a patchwork offensive line, with limited weapons, in a season that’s already gone off the rails. And yet, he’s showing enough - the arm talent, the toughness, the flashes of playmaking - to suggest he could be worth investing in.
The Browns have a choice. They could use their likely top-three pick in 2026 to draft another quarterback, essentially hitting reset again. But unless that new quarterback walks into a vastly improved situation, the results might not look all that different.
Or, they can commit to Sanders. Use those two first-rounders to give him a real shot - a fortified line, a legitimate receiving threat, and a stable environment to grow in. That’s the path that makes the most sense right now.
Final Thoughts
Sunday’s loss was ugly - no way around it. But the Browns’ season isn’t about the win column anymore.
It’s about building a foundation. And even in a game filled with mistakes, Shedeur Sanders showed enough to make a strong case that he should be part of that foundation moving forward.
The tools are there. The flashes are real. Now it’s up to the Browns to give him something to work with.