Shedeur Sanders Embracing the Cold, the Competition, and the Moment Ahead of Browns-Bears Clash
Sunday’s Week 15 showdown between the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears is shaping up to be more than just another December football game-it’s about to be a battle against the elements. With wind chills expected to dip around minus-15 degrees Fahrenheit at Soldier Field, this could go down as one of the coldest games in the venue’s storied history.
And yet, Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders isn’t flinching.
Sanders, who cut his teeth playing in chilly Boulder with the Colorado Buffaloes, knows what it’s like when the weather turns brutal. But as he prepares to take the field in potentially historic cold, his mindset is clear: don’t let the conditions win before the game even starts.
“One thing you don’t want to be is mentally defeated before you get there,” Sanders told reporters this week. “Whatever comes with however it feels out there just comes with it. We could prepare the best we can and do everything we can to bundle up.”
Sanders was already layering up in practice-rocking two sleeves and a modified look to keep warm. But the real preparation, he emphasized, is mental.
The cold is going to be a factor for everyone, but how you respond to it? That’s where the edge is found.
Sanders Riding Momentum into the Wind
The rookie is coming off his sharpest performance yet in a Browns uniform. Against Tennessee in Week 14, Sanders threw for 364 yards and four total touchdowns, completing 23 of 42 passes in a narrow 31-29 loss. Despite an interception, his poise and playmaking stood out, especially for a first-year quarterback still settling into the NFL grind.
As long as he stays healthy, Sanders is expected to remain the Browns’ starter through the end of the regular season, holding off fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. And with each passing week, he’s starting to look more and more like the guy Cleveland can build around.
A Little Trash Talk? Just Part of the Game
Sanders’ Week 14 stat line wasn’t the only thing that got people talking. During the game, he had a few spirited exchanges with Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons-something Simmons later acknowledged. On Wednesday, Sanders addressed the back-and-forth, making it clear that while he’s not one to initiate, he’s also not backing down.
“You gotta understand, that’s my character,” Sanders said. “I’m not one to do that off rip… But I only do that when it was initiated.”
He kept it light, calling it “just fun” and noting the mutual respect that exists in the heat of competition. For Sanders, it’s not about ego-it’s about energy. If someone brings the fire, he’s going to meet it head-on.
“I don’t take anything personal. I know they don’t because it’s the heat of battle and it’s respecting on both sides.”
That kind of composure, especially from a rookie quarterback, speaks volumes. Sanders isn’t just learning the speed of the pro game-he’s learning how to carry himself through its emotional swings.
A Tall Task in Chicago
The Browns head into Sunday’s matchup at 3-10 and as 7.5-point underdogs against a 9-4 Bears team that’s found its stride. Chicago has been tough at home, and with the weather expected to turn Soldier Field into a frozen fortress, the challenge only grows.
But Sanders isn’t shying away from any of it-the cold, the competition, or the expectations. He’s leaning into the moment, sleeves on and mindset locked in.
For a Browns team looking for a spark in the final stretch of the season, that kind of leadership under center might be exactly what they need.