Despite a tough loss to the Titans, Browns fans are showing a bit more optimism heading into the final stretch of the season. According to the latest fan polling, confidence in the team actually ticked up two percentage points to 47% - a modest rise, but a rise nonetheless.
That’s not exactly a parade-worthy number, but it’s telling. Even after a game where the run defense got gashed and special teams continued to struggle, fans saw something worth believing in: rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Let’s talk about Sanders. The rookie's four-touchdown performance against Tennessee was the kind of breakout that shifts narratives fast.
A week ago, there were questions about whether there’d be enough time to evaluate him properly. Now?
That conversation has flipped. With four games left and Sanders officially named the starter down the stretch, this is his audition - not just for 2026, but for the long-term direction of the franchise.
He’s got the keys now, and if he keeps flashing the poise and playmaking he showed last week, the Browns may have found something real at quarterback.
Of course, there's still plenty of work to be done. Cleveland’s defense, which had been a strength earlier in the year, got pushed around on the ground against Tennessee.
That’s not a great sign, especially with playoff hopes hanging by a thread. And special teams?
Still a liability. Those issues can’t be ignored, but they’re easier to stomach when there’s a young quarterback giving fans something to get excited about.
This week, the Browns face off against the Chicago Bears - a team whose fanbase is riding high, with a whopping 96% confidence rating in their direction. That’s a stark contrast to Cleveland’s sub-50% mark, and it sets up an interesting clash between a team trying to solidify its identity and another trying to rediscover it.
Another storyline that’s keeping Browns fans engaged: Myles Garrett’s chase for history. He’s sitting at 20 sacks on the season, just 2.5 shy of the NFL’s single-season record (22.5).
That’s well within reach - especially when you consider Garrett has already posted single-game totals of 5, 4, and 3 sacks this year. It’s no surprise, then, that 92% of fans believe he can break the record.
But here’s the thing - Garrett’s season hasn’t been all peaks. He went through a five-game stretch earlier where he managed just 1.5 sacks total.
So while the upside is clearly there, it’s not a lock. That said, there’s one major advantage Garrett has going for him right now: health.
In past seasons, he’s often been banged up by this point. This year, he’s still upright, still explosive, and still chasing greatness.
So while the Browns' playoff picture remains murky, there’s no shortage of reasons to keep watching. Between Sanders’ late-season audition and Garrett’s pursuit of a record, Cleveland’s final four games are loaded with storylines that matter - not just for this season, but for what comes next.