Shedeur Sanders experience was on full display in OT loss to Saints

Shedeur Sanders has an uneven performance in overtime loss to the Saints

The day started off poorly for the former fifth-round pick, taking a bunch of sacks and throwing for just 38 yards in the first half. But then he came alive in the second half and had two dazzling deep passes to rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.

Perhaps the most promising part of the game was that Sanders didn’t turn the ball over at all. It was something he struggled mightily with in his rookie season, throwing 10 interceptions and losing a fumble in seven starts.

Sunday’s game against the Saints felt like an opportunity for Sanders to showcase himself as Cleveland’s quarterback of the future, or as a trade option for another team. Maybe he didn’t do enough statistically to prove much of anything, but it was certainly an improvement over his play last season.

Sanders threw a lead-taking touchdown to Concepcion late in the fourth quarter, but then the Saints quickly took the lead back. Sanders then marched the team down the field to tie the game 16-16 and send it to overtime.

The Browns lost 23-22 when they failed to convert what would have been a game-winning two-point conversion. But Sanders showed that he has the poise to play in a high-pressure game where the lead keeps changing hands. 

It wasn’t a perfect game for the young quarterback, but it wasn’t a terrible one, either. It was a little bit of everything, which seems to be a staple of Sanders’ game.