When the Cleveland Browns fell behind the San Francisco 49ers by multiple scores on Sunday, the game never felt like it was within reach - not because of the scoreboard alone, but because of the approach. In a cold, blustery afternoon at Huntington Bank Stadium, the Browns leaned hard into the run game, even as time and the scoreboard screamed for urgency. And in doing so, they missed a real chance to see what they’ve got in rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a blowout from the jump. Cleveland trailed 23-8 early in the fourth quarter - not ideal, but not insurmountable either.
Yet the Browns stayed committed to the ground game, with Quinshon Judkins carrying the ball 23 times. Sanders, on the other hand, threw just 25 passes - and seven of those came on the final drive, when the outcome was all but decided.
This wasn’t just a conservative game plan. It was a missed opportunity.
A Chance to Evaluate Sanders - Wasted?
At 3-9, the Browns are no longer playing for playoff positioning - they’re playing for the future. And one of the biggest questions looming over this franchise is whether Shedeur Sanders can be the answer at quarterback going forward.
The rookie has shown flashes, and with a fifth-round rookie contract, the upside is obvious. But flashes only go so far without reps.
And Sunday’s game was a perfect spot to give him more.
Instead, head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees played it safe. Too safe.
Even with the game slipping away, they stuck with the run, limiting Sanders’ involvement in the offense until the final drive. By the time he was asked to throw, the 49ers were already in cruise control.
Stefanski admitted on Monday that he’s still taking things “week-to-week,” including with the quarterback position. That’s understandable in some contexts - but with five games left and the playoffs out of reach, this is the time to find out what you’ve got.
“For the young quarterback, you only get better with more turns at these things, at these games,” Stefanski said. “As you see more coverages, as you see more defenses, and as you prepare versus different defenses.”
That’s exactly the point. And yet, when Sanders made a rookie mistake - taking a 13-yard sack on third-and-long that knocked the Browns out of field goal range - the leash seemed to tighten.
The Numbers Tell the Story
In the first half, Sanders dropped back on just 12 of the Browns’ 32 plays - that’s 37.5%. In the second half, even as the 49ers extended their lead and controlled the clock, Sanders was allowed to throw on only 21 of 51 meaningful snaps (41.2%).
And yet, there were glimpses of what could be. On Cleveland’s best drive of the day, Rees called nine straight runs before Sanders hit tight end Harold Fannin Jr. for a 34-yard touchdown. It was a well-executed play-action strike that showed Sanders’ arm talent and ability to read a defense when given the chance.
Despite the limited opportunities, the Browns actually posted a 50% success rate on offensive plays - their third-highest mark since the start of the 2024 season. But they still managed just 8 points, a season low, and never reached the red zone. Their deepest drive stalled at the 20-yard line.
That’s the paradox. The efficiency was there.
The execution, at times, was clean. But the aggression?
The creativity? The willingness to let Sanders take control of the offense?
Not so much.
What Now?
This was only Sanders’ second career start, and the conditions weren’t exactly ideal for airing it out. But at some point, the Browns have to let him play quarterback - not just manage the game.
The final five games of the season offer a rare window for Cleveland. They can evaluate Sanders in real time, against live NFL defenses, with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
That means letting him make mistakes, learn from them, and grow. It means putting the ball in his hands when the game still matters - not just in garbage time.
There’s no guarantee Sanders is the long-term answer. But if the Browns don’t give him the chance to prove it, they’ll head into 2026 with the same question marks - and possibly the need to spend more capital on a position they might already have a solution for.
Sunday’s game against the 49ers was a missed opportunity. The hope for Cleveland is that it doesn’t become a pattern.