Shedeur Sanders Throws First NFL Touchdown, Leads Browns to Victory Over Raiders
Shedeur Sanders earned his first NFL start for the Cleveland Browns last week, breaking a long-standing team drought and contributing to a 24-10 win against the Las Vegas Raiders. Sanders, a fifth-round pick, had previously seen action off the bench, throwing his first touchdown pass in the victory.
Sanders completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. While not a dominant performance, it was sufficient to secure the win against a struggling Raiders team. Notably,this win ended a 0-17 streak for the Browns – since returning to the NFL in 1999,quarterbacks making their first career start for Cleveland had previously been unable to secure a victory.
Sanders has garnered significant attention as a rookie,fueled by his father,Hall of Famer Deion Sanders,who was present in Las Vegas to witness his son’s debut,and his collegiate career at the University of Colorado.
Sanders’ performance was a marked improvement from his initial NFL experience in Week 11,when he entered the game after starter Dillon Gabriel was sidelined with a concussion. In that limited action, he completed 4 of 16 passes. Against the Raiders,Sanders was 7 of 11 for 127 yards in the first half alone,including a 52-yard completion to Isaiah Bond that set up a touchdown.He did throw one interception in the first half, but was only sacked once.
The Browns led 14-3 at halftime, marking their best offensive showing of the season.
Sanders recorded his first NFL touchdown pass in the second half,connecting with Dylan Sampson on a 66-yard play. Sampson evaded the Raiders defense for the score, extending the Browns’ lead to 24-3.
The Browns’ defense, led by Myles Garrett, played a crucial role in the victory. Garrett set a new franchise record with his 17th sack of the season, ultimately finishing with three sacks and bringing his season total to 18. He is now five sacks away from perhaps breaking the NFL’s single-season record. The defensive line consistently pressured Raiders quarterback Geno Smith.
The Browns have indicated that gabriel would have started had he cleared concussion protocol, suggesting Sanders’ time as the starter may be limited. However, he made a positive impression in his first start.
