1) Shedeur delivers breakout game despite Browns falling short
It seemed like perfect timing for Shedeur Sanders to lead the Browns to their fourth victory of the season in a matchup against the one-win Titans. While that result did not go according to plan, Sanders showcased the top-end talent that put him at the upper echelon of mock draft boards back in the spring.
The fifth-round rookie finished with 364 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 29 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Sanders led a potential game-tying touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter but was not on the field for the Browns’ two-point try. (Cleveland utilized rookie running back Quinshon Judkins on a Wildcat play, as the team has often done near the goal line.)
Although the Browns failed on the two-point attempt and lost, 31-29, their rookie quarterback made history and attached his name to a pair of high-profile quarterbacks. Sanders became just the second rookie in NFL history with at least 350 passing yards, three passing TDs and a rushing TD in the same game, joining Joe Burrow, who did so in 2020 against the Browns (also in a loss).
Many of those passing yards for Sanders came on explosive big plays — namely a 58-yard screen pass to Judkins and a 60-yard touchdown toss to Jerry Jeudy. Sanders has four completions of 50-plus yards since making his first career start in Week 12, which is twice as many as any other quarterback in that span. Sam Darnold, who has two, is the only other QB with multiple such completions during that time frame.
Sanders joined Aaron Rodgers as the only quarterbacks since 2000 to have four completions of 50-plus yards within their first three career starts. Rodgers did so in 2008 after sitting behind Brett Favre for three seasons.
