Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders held is own against the NFL’s No. 2 pass defense, but his injury-riddled offensive line couldn't protect him in the end.
Coming into Sunday’s Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills, Browns’ left tackle Jack Conklin was placed on injured reserve and right guard Wyatt Teller was ruled inactive for the contest. Left tackle Dawand Jones tore his LCL and hamstring in Week 3.
The Browns had the same offensive line combination for the second game in a row for the first time since Week 12, Sanders first career start. The banged-up line held their own most of the game but let up when it mattered most.
Shedeur Sanders threw two interceptions
Sanders went 20-of-29 for 157 yards and a touchdown, while also leading the Browns on the ground with four carries for 49 yards.
The fifth-round pick did throw two interceptions that led to 10 Buffalo points, though both came on deflections — one off Quinshon Judkins’ hands and the other at the line of scrimmage.
Even with bad luck, Sanders will need to be sharper.
“This interception is completely on Shedeur Sanders,” said NFL insider Josina Anderson on X while referring to the second pick deflected by Joey Bosa.
“As you watch the play unfold, he second-guesses his time to release the throw with Bills defenders right on his porch. He has to move the gears in his head a little faster.”
Browns offensive line collapses down stretch
Sanders had multiple opportunities to lead a game-winning drive and may have held the ball too long at times, but his protection also broke down late.
With 5:08 left, on the Browns’ second-to-last possession, Greg Rousseau sacked Sanders on fourth-and-2 at the Cleveland 44.
On the final drive, Rousseau and Jordan Poyer brought him down again on first-and-10 at the Cleveland 23, and pressure on the next snap forced Sanders back to the 1-yard line, where an errant throw to the flat resulted in intentional grounding. After an incompletion, Cleveland was left punting on fourth-and-32, sealing a 23–20 loss.