Shedeur Sanders, playing in front of his father, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, while making his first career start, is halfway to his first win. The Browns lead the hapless Raiders 14-3 at halftime.
He’s gotten plenty of help from his defense, which has held the Raiders to 101 yards and sacked Geno Smith five times. Maliek Collins has two sacks, and Myles Garrett, the NFL’s sacks leader, has one.
Sanders also has gotten help from the Browns’ special teams.
Gage Larvadain returned an A.J. Cole punt 44 yards to the Las Vegas 27 before Cole tripped him. Officials penalized Cole 14 yards for tripping. It took only two plays for the Browns to go the final 13 yards, with Quinshon Judkins scoring on an 8-yard run.
Judkins scored again on a 2-yard run after Sanders had set up the Browns with a 17-yard throw to Harold Fannin and a 52-yard thrown to Isaiah Bond.
The Browns gained 132 yards in the first half.
Sanders is 7-of-11 for 127 yards and an interception. Jerry Jeudy fumbled at the end of a 39-yard reception on a hit by Jeremy Chinn that Elandon Roberts recovered for the Raiders.
Bond has two catches for 58 yards.
The Raiders crossed midfield twice, getting a 41-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson, who missed a 48-yarder.
Geno Smith is 13-of-20 for 110 yards, with Ashton Jeanty catching four for 34. Jeanty also has 10 carries for 28 yards.
