Sanders leads Browns to overtime loss despite 297-yard effort

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of the 2026 season, but the team fell 23-22 in overtime to the New Orleans Saints on Saturday. The game ended in a sudden-death tie-breaker that left the Browns with a 5-4 record. Sanders completed 19 of 31 passes while avoiding interceptions. The performance marked a rare statistical feat for the team's young signal-caller.

Sanders became the first Browns quarterback to throw for over 250 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions since Jameis Winston did so in 2024. He also became the only quarterback in the league to record multiple completions of 60 yards or more this season. The Browns had trailed 16-13 late in the fourth quarter. Sanders led a seven-play drive that covered 41 yards. A 30-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy kept the drive alive after Saints defensive end Chase Young hit the quarterback. Andre Szmyt kicked a 51-yard field goal to force overtime.

The offensive line protected Sanders during critical moments, but the real difference makers were the receivers. Rookie Denzel Boston caught six passes for 98 yards, a career best. He leads the league in receiving yards among first-year players. KC Concepcion made his NFL debut with a 64-yard touchdown reception from Sanders. The two rookies became the first pair of first-year players to record 60-yard receptions in the same game in 35 years. Boston's performance highlighted the depth in Cleveland's receiving corps.

In overtime, the Saints kicked off and took possession first. Quarterback Tyler Shough led an 11-play, 74-yard drive. He finished the sequence with a touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson. Sanders responded immediately. He threw a 39-yard touchdown strike to Harold Fannin Jr. to tie the game at 22 points. Head coach Todd Monken chose to go for a two-point conversion instead of kicking for the win. He targeted Boston, but the pass fell short. The Browns could not recover the ball to take over and win.

The result complicates the quarterback decision in Cleveland. Deshaun Watson is currently sidelined with a concussion. He had led the team to a 5-3 start before his injury. Watson recently became the third quarterback since 1970 to record a game-winning drive in each of his team's first five wins of a season. However, his last two games have featured over 300 passing yards with no touchdowns. Monken said the competition remains open. He praised Sanders' work ethic and ability to battle with limited playing time. Monken noted that Sanders has matured since joining the team. He said the starting role will be a key discussion point in the coming days.

Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, who serves as an analyst for CBS Sports, praised Sanders' maturity. Cowher stated that Sanders should be the starter. He cited the quarterback's resilience and ability to extend plays. Cowher noted that Sanders showed the qualities necessary to lead the team. The Browns will face the next opponent on the schedule with the outcome of the quarterback competition unresolved. The team will review the tape from Saturday's game to determine the next step.