Myles Garrett

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.