Shedeur Sanders didn’t play his cleanest game on Sunday, but he did what mattered most-he found a way to win. In a gritty, low-scoring AFC North battle, the rookie quarterback led Cleveland to a 13-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, outdueling none other than Aaron Rodgers in a matchup that carried more than just playoff implications. It was a symbolic passing of the torch-Rodgers once shared the field with Deion Sanders, and now, decades later, he faced Deion’s son under center.
Sanders’ stat line won’t blow anyone away-17 completions on 23 attempts for 186 yards and a touchdown-but the efficiency was notable. That 73.9% completion rate was a season high, and it wasn’t just dink-and-dunk stuff.
Sanders showed continued progress in the red zone, where decision-making tightens and windows shrink. He’s starting to look more comfortable orchestrating drives when the field gets short, a key growth marker for any young quarterback.
But let’s not sugarcoat it-turnovers are still a problem. Sanders has now thrown multiple interceptions in three straight games, including one this week that should’ve been a pick-six if not for a Steelers drop.
Those near-misses are the kind of plays that separate a promising young QB from a reliable one. The flashes are real, but so are the growing pains.
What’s encouraging is how Sanders bounces back. He’s not rattled by mistakes, and that poise is starting to show in critical moments.
He’s learning to manage the game, not just play in it. That’s a big step for a rookie quarterback, especially in a division known for its defensive gauntlet.
And while his 2-4 record as a starter might not turn heads, the context matters. Two of those losses came by less than a field goal, games where Cleveland had legitimate shots to win late. Sanders hasn’t been perfect, but he’s kept the Browns competitive, and that’s saying something for a first-year signal-caller still getting his feet under him.
As the season winds down, the Browns are entering evaluation mode. The big question now is whether Sanders has shown enough to be the guy moving forward.
The arm talent is there. The processing is improving.
The leadership? It’s starting to show.
But with the offseason looming, Cleveland will have to decide whether to double down on the development plan or explore other options at quarterback.
For now, though, Sanders can hang his hat on a win over a future Hall of Famer. It wasn’t pretty-but in the NFL, style points don’t count. Wins do.