Shedeur Sanders’ time in Cleveland has officially arrived. While his first NFL start wasn’t flawless, the fifth-round rookie showed significant improvement in Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders and managed to make history in the process after a shaky debut last week.
Historic Moments for Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland Start
Sanders’ first NFL start was a historic one. Taking his first snap under center, Sanders joined Brian Griese as only the second son of a Pro Football Hall of Famer to start an NFL game at quarterback. Deion Sanders was in attendance at Allegiant Stadium, cheering on his son as he took the field for Cleveland.
After a rough debut last week, where he completed just four of 16 passes, Sanders showed clear improvement on Sunday, going 11 of 20 for 209 yards and throwing his first NFL touchdown. While he also threw an interception and was sacked, the Browns pulled off a victory 24-10, ending a three-game losing streak.
Sanders’ win also broke a nearly 30-year streak of Browns quarterbacks losing their first starts, with 17 failing before him. The last to do so was Eric Zeier, who beat the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime in 1995.
Shedeur’s first career TD pass! Sampson runs 66 yards for the score.
CLEvsLV on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/fzAH0Ml9ep
— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2025
Additionally, quarterbacks drafted in the fifth round or later have historically struggled in their first starts. Since the merger, they have gone 19–36–1, averaging 51.1% completions, 135.4 passing yards, and an average passer rating of 54.2. Sanders surpassed all of these marks, but more importantly, he earned a win.
Beyond records, Sanders is beginning to stake his claim as Cleveland’s quarterback of the future. His first highlight came early in the first quarter with a 52-yard pass to Isiah Bond, later converted by Quinshon Judkins on an eight-yard run, marking the longest throw by a Browns QB in 15 games.
Shedeur is objectively playing well today (has 1 bad play).
These are the small winning plays. Extend the play, eyes downfield, direct traffic, throw with touch. https://t.co/GwRQh96vZw pic.twitter.com/CWKwR7hwyM
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) November 23, 2025
Sanders also attempted another deep pass to Jerry Jeudy, but the receiver was stripped of it after attempting to run. But Sanders redeemed himself with his first NFL touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, connecting with running back Dylan Sampson, who rushed 66 yards for the score, putting the Browns up 24–3 and effectively sealing the win.
With the victory, the Browns improved to 3–8 for the season, though they remain largely out of playoff contention. The focus now turns to Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, where head coach Kevin Stefanski faces a crucial decision: whether Dillon Gabriel, who is dealing with a concussion, will be cleared to start, or if Sanders will continue under center.
