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Browns Lose Positions After Shedeur Sanders’ First Start

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Nov 24, 2025 9:53 PM ET

Shedeur Sanders delivered a poised performance in his first NFL start on Sunday, stepping in for fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was sidelined after entering concussion protocol earlier in the week. Sanders completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Cleveland Browns’ 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Cleveland’s defense also powered a chunk of the effort, piling up 10 sacks – three of them from star edge rusher Myles Garrett – as the Browns overwhelmed the Raiders at the line of scrimmage. The victory snapped Cleveland’s three-game losing streak and also marked their first road win of the season.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12).Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The win lifted Cleveland to 3-8, but it also came with an unintended consequence: a drop in their standing in the projected 2026 NFL Draft order. After entering Week 12 positioned at No. 3, the Browns slid to No. 6 following the victory.

Five teams now sit ahead of them in the draft race: the Tennessee Titans at 1-10, the New York Giants at 2-10, and the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and Las Vegas Raiders all at 2-9.

The Browns landed the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, opting to select DT Mason Graham. They drafted six more players, including Sanders, who was selected in the fifth round.

Jets jump a spot from last week, thanks to Cleveland’s win. Dec. 21 vs New Orleans looms large. #Jets also own 28th pick (Colts). @tankathon pic.twitter.com/pF1pgzs6Es
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) November 24, 2025

As for Cleveland’s playoff hopes, it remains faint. The Browns are last in the AFC North and will need a near-perfect finish, along with substantial help elsewhere, to climb into contention.

Still, the team is moving forward with Sanders under center. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Monday that Sanders will remain the starter in Week 13 even after Gabriel cleared concussion protocol, noting the poise Sanders showed in his debut.

The Browns will return home for a difficult matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, who enter with one of the NFL’s top defenses. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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