Browns' Defense Dominates and Shedeur Sanders Executes Well in Browns 24-10 Win: Game Notes
The Browns picked up their third win of the season in Las Vegas and it was badly needed.
The Browns had a rookie quarterback win their debut for the first time since returning in 1999 as Sheduer Sanders led the offense to 24 points and navigated his first true NFL start well enough to contribute to the win. The whole rookie class stood out, to be honest.
Sanders helped end a three-game skid as he replaced Dillon Gabriel who remains in concussion protocol, and ended a 17-game losing streak by Cleveland quarterbacks making their first start. No doubt Sanders can thank the Browns’ defensive line, which dominated the Raiders’ to the tune of 20 quarterback hits and 10 sacks. Las Vegas has now allowed 20 sacks over the past three weeks.
Garrett now has 18 sacks this season to break his franchise record of 16, set twice. With six games left, he needs five sacks to break the NFL record of 22 1/2 set by Michael Strahan in 2001 and T.J. Watt in 2021.
Quinshon Judkins and the Browns “wildcat” approach scored two short touchdowns on direct snaps in the first quarter. It continues to serve the offense well near the goal line. Las Vegas (2-9), which has lost nine of 10, punted eight times, turned it over on downs twice and lost a fumble. The Raiders’ offense certainly looked like one of the league’s worst, was booed frequently by the Allegiant Stadium crowd, and is headed toward a total rebuild.
These will be very abbreviated due to the late hour but here are some quick Week 12 Game Notes.
Sanders was far from perfect but he had some great moments in the game. He avoided some of his drifting issues in the pocket and made some nice plays while extending laterally. The blitz can still overwhelm him, and did at times in this one, but he navigated it far better than last week and hit some nice late down throws. His rolling right throw to Isaiah Bond was the highlight of the game as it was the type of 50+ yard explosive plays this offense has died to find.
Sanders has room to improve on the routine as he missed some chances for simple gains, but he did enough encouraging things to feel as though his propensity to push the ball downfield and extend plays should see more time. Here’s a look at his data. His best results came against those heavy blitz looks where he extended plays and then Dylan Sampson took the long run on a swing pass.
Quinshon Judkins ran hard and did his job throughout the day. He just gets better and better within what he is given. Seemed like a brief scare with a head injury but he re-entered the game. Strong work getting what he can and despite the data (2.9ypc) he was good on first watch.
I have been asking to get the football into the hands of Dylan Sampson in space more often and he delivered. The burst in the open-field was obvious on both his 26-yard run and the 66-yard swing pass. He is a weapon and they need to treat him as such. He needs 8-10 touches per game.
Unsure if David Njoku had injuries that persisted with the knee to limit his snaps but he didn’t play a high volume today or see any action in the passing game. Harold Fannin Jr. played a large volume and was his usual self. Deadly after the catch and making yards happen that should not. He is going to be special.
The offensive line felt like they protected well enough but they lost the battle in the run game trenches. So, on first watch it felt fine but I think the film will be unkind on the rewatch when needed to create vertical run game push. But, again, only allowing seven pressure is strong overall.
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