Shedeur Sanders Shines, But Browns’ Late-Game Decision Sparks More Questions Than Answers
Shedeur Sanders gave Browns fans a glimpse of the future on Sunday - and it looked pretty bright. The rookie quarterback put together his best performance yet in a comeback bid against the Tennessee Titans, throwing for a season-high 364 yards and three touchdowns. But instead of the rookie’s breakout day taking center stage, a puzzling coaching decision in the final minute stole the spotlight.
Down 31-17 with just over six minutes to go, Sanders sparked life into a Browns offense that had been stagnant for most of the afternoon. First, he capped off a drive with a determined seven-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to one possession. The Browns went for two - and came up short.
Still, Sanders wasn’t done. On the next possession, he led a seven-play, 80-yard march down the field, finishing it off with a seven-yard strike to fellow rookie Harold Fannin Jr. with just 1:03 left on the clock. The Browns were within two points, momentum was fully on their side, and Sanders was in rhythm.
And then came the head-scratcher.
Instead of letting the rookie finish what he started, head coach Kevin Stefanski pulled Sanders for the ensuing two-point conversion attempt. The decision didn’t pay off. The play failed, and with it went Cleveland’s chance to tie the game.
After the game, Stefanski took the blame.
“That’s on me… I’m responsible for all of it,” he said in his postgame comments.
It’s worth noting that Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has been calling plays since Week 10, but Stefanski clarified that the two-point play had been pre-planned - before Sanders even threw the touchdown. That’s where the issue lies.
Sanders had just orchestrated a high-pressure, high-precision drive. He was locked in.
Changing course at that moment felt like pulling the plug on a hot hand.
Let’s talk about Sanders' day for a moment. The fifth-round pick out of Colorado completed 23 of 42 passes, racking up 364 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
He also posted a career-best 97.7 passer rating - a number that sits comfortably above the league average. It was the kind of performance that makes you pause and wonder if the Browns might have something brewing under center.
And yet, despite all that, Sanders found himself on the sideline for arguably the biggest play of the game.
It’s the kind of decision that raises eyebrows - especially when you consider Stefanski’s recent track record. The Browns have now dropped to 3-10, and Stefanski is just 6-24 over his last 30 games. That’s not the kind of stretch that buys a coach much benefit of the doubt, especially when the game management decisions start to stack up.
To be fair, Sanders hasn’t been perfect this season. He’s still looking for his first game completing more than 64% of his passes, and he’s had his share of rookie moments.
But on Sunday, he was rolling. He was confident.
And he had just led back-to-back touchdown drives with the game on the line.
That’s not the time to take the ball out of your quarterback’s hands - rookie or not.
For now, the Browns are left with another loss and more questions than answers. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s this: Shedeur Sanders looked like a gamer. And for a franchise still searching for stability at quarterback, that’s something worth holding onto - even if the coaching decisions around him continue to raise concerns.