Sanders’ First Browns Start Brings Late Surge, Familiar Problems

Sanders took over for Deshaun Watson, who had cleared concussion protocol, as Cleveland visited the Saints. Coach Todd Monken kept the offense cautious early, and Sanders’ completions gained 4.8 yards on average before halftime. The approach limited risk, and Sanders did not turn the ball over, but the Browns produced little momentum at first.

Cleveland’s biggest gains came when Sanders pushed the ball downfield. He connected with Denzel Boston for a 60-yard catch in the third quarter, then found a wide-open KC Concepcion for a 64-yard touchdown in the fourth. The score briefly put the Browns ahead.

There were also communication errors and continued problems up front. Quinshon Judkins ran the wrong play on a third down, and a misdirected handoff on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line ended with the run stopped. Sanders was sacked five times and ran 10 times for 28 yards. He also held the ball too long on some plays, including an eight-yard sack late in the fourth quarter.

With about a minute remaining, Sanders connected with Jerry Jeudy while being hit, setting up a chance to tie the game with a field goal. In overtime, he settled into a quicker rhythm and found Harold Fannin Jr. on a short pass; Fannin broke a tackle and scored a touchdown. Fannin had not caught a pass in regulation.

The offense’s slow start and late burst echoed its pattern under Watson. Sanders is expected to get another start before the Browns’ bye week as the team evaluates him for the future.