Shedeur Sanders became the first rookie QB in NFL history to do this on Sunday

Jason Jones

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Shedeur Sanders became the first rookie QB in NFL history to do this on Sunday image

Week 14 of the NFL schedule provided college football fans a matchup they never got to see in 2024. Shedeur Sanders vs Cam Ward. The No. 1 overall pick and the No. 144th pick in the draft squared off against each other when the Titans played Cleveland. 

Sanders and Ward were a pre-draft staple courtesy of Bucky Sanders’ “Well Off Media” and Ward’s personal social media accounts. Practice sessions and post season awards saw Sanders and Ward in each other’s company often.

Before the draft took place, there was an overwhelming sense that Ward would go to Tennessee at one, but then Shedeur would come off the board soon thereafter. As it turned out, Sanders would have to wait for 143 picks and more than four rounds before he would hear his name called.

However, Sanders stepped up in a big way and made NFL history. 

The game dubbed, “The Failure Bowl” by fans on social media provided some fireworks. At least relative to Cleveland’s offensive output to this point in 2025. The negative sentiment towards this game is not unfair. The Titans (2-11) and the Browns (3-10) who picked first and second overall (prior to a draft day trade) are likely to be picking at the top of the first round again in 2026.

Ward for the Titans has a very comfortable place on the Tennessee depth chart. As the No. 1 overall pick, there is no real urgency to make a mark in year one as they are committed to Ward as their starter. Sanders on the other hand, has had an interesting rookie season. With arguably the largest established fanbase for a rookie NFL player ever, Sanders day-to-day movements have been closely tracked.

Shedeur Sanders performance vs the Titans

Sanders saw his first game action in relief of starter Dillon Gabriel on November 16th vs the Ravens. In that game he only registered four completions. The next two games he would start. In those games, Sanders threw for 209 yards and 149 yards respectively. In those games he had two touchdowns combined. In those two games, Sanders had 358 yards and two touchdowns. On Sunday Sanders had 364 yards and 3 passing touchdowns to go along with 29 rush yards (which led the team) and a rushing touchdown.

Sanders had over 200 yards worth of chunk plays, including two plays over 30 yards and one play that was a couple yards shy of a 60-yard touchdown pass. Sanders’ 364 passing yards ranks as the 5th highest passing total in a game since 2018. Since the start of the 2024 season, only Jameis Winston has a higher passing total game (497, 295 in 2024).

Ulitmately, Sanders’ best performance as a pro was not enough to win the game. The Browns are still inventing new ways to lose games. Heading into week 14, Cleveland had the No. 2 defense in the NFL behind only the Texans. Against the Titans, Cleveland allowed 184 yards rushing (6.4 ypc for Tony Pollard) which kept Tennessee ahead.

Cleveland has also had truly impressive special teams' gaffes all season. Add a blocked punt and a botched would-be game tying two-point conversion attempt (another direct snap to the RB with Sanders not on the field). While the loss will inevitably have fans upset, especially considering Sanders’ game stat line, wins at this point should not be the goal for Cleveland. They are out of the mix for a playoff berth, and the remaining goal should be to see if the Colorado and Jackson State product can do enough in 2025 to win the 2026 starting job.

Sanders vs the Titans was the best rookie QB performance of 2025

In this game against Tennessee, Sanders had a level of production that no rookie quarterback in 2025 has equaled. The second highest stat line produced by a rookie quarterback this season was Jaxson Dart vs Denver. He had 283 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. A stat line Sanders beat by almost a hundred yards combined (passing and rushing).

In Coach Stefanksi’s post-game press conference, for the first time since Sanders started seeing playing time, he was not asked if Sanders will start next week. After an almost 400-yard performance, that should go without being said. “He fought throughout the game just like we thought he would,” said Stefanski. “Like with any young player, there are going to be ups and downs, and I thought there were some really really really good moments. He’ll keep learning from some of the plays he wants back, but some really good moments.”

Sanders’ father and Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders was in attendance for the game. Coach Sanders made the trip to Cleveland and was at the facility on Saturday. While the Sanders father and son don’t get to take their pre-game walk anymore, Coach Prime’s presence was noticeable. After the game, Coach Prime tweeted a very Coach Prime reaction to the game and Shedeur’s performance.

For the immediate fallout of losing a close game many will think the Browns should have won, given Sanders’ performance. However, this may end up being the first significant step towards winning the larger more long term goal. Can Sanders be the answer to a 30-year problem for that franchise. Can Sanders be the starting quarterback after this season. If he’s able to do that it will be the most Browns thing to happen since before the team moved to Baltimore. Finding their franchise quarterback in the one year when everyone else passed on that player.

Up next for Sanders and the Browns is a trip to Soldier Field for a game against the nine-win Chicago Bears. A game Sanders is expected to start. That game is scheduled to start at 1:00pm ET and broadcast on FOX. 

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Senior Editor