Shedeur Sanders Stunned in NFL Debut?! What This Loss Means for His Future!

LAS VEGAS — Shedeur Sanders, making his first NFL start with his famous father Deion watching intently from a suite, managed to steer the Cleveland Browns to a much-needed 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders here at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. The Browns snapped a painful three-game losing skid, improving to a still-not-great 3-8. Meanwhile, the Raiders are spiraling, their loss marking their fifth straight, plunging them to a dismal 2-9. It's been a rough introduction to the desert for head coach Pete Carroll.

Shedeur Sanders Stunned in NFL Debut?! What This L...

Sanders, thrust into the spotlight due to Dillon Gabriel's concussion, became the 45th starting quarterback for the Browns since 1994. That's a truly staggering number, underscoring the revolving door that's plagued the franchise for decades. Last week wasn't pretty for the rookie; coming in relief against Baltimore, he completed just 4 of 16 passes for a paltry 47 yards and an interception. This time around, however, with a full week of first-team reps under his belt, Sanders looked far more composed.

He wasn’t perfect, mind you. Sanders threw an interception on a short pass intended for Jerry Jeudy, a miscue the Raiders capitalized on with a 41-yard field goal. But overall, Sanders was reasonably effective, completing 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards. The highlight? A beautiful 66-yard touchdown bomb to rookie Dylan Sampson. The Browns desperately needed some offensive spark, and Sanders, at times, provided it.

Beyond the touchdown, Sanders showed flashes of brilliance, including a key play where he evaded a blitz, rolled to his right, and connected with fellow rookie Isaiah Bond for a 54-yard completion. That set up a Qunshon Judkins’ 8-yard touchdown run. Remarkably, it was only the second time this season that the Browns have managed to score more than 20 points. Baby steps, perhaps, but steps in the right direction.

On the other side of the ball, Myles Garrett continued his campaign for Defensive Player of the Year. He racked up five combined tackles and three sacks, bringing his league-leading total to 18 sacks in just 11 games. Garrett is an absolute force. He's now recorded at least 13 sacks in five straight seasons, the longest streak since sacks were officially tracked in 1982. He needs just five more sacks in the next six games to break Michael Strahan's single-season record of 22.5. Don't bet against him.

The Raiders' struggles, however, are raising serious questions about Pete Carroll’s long-term future. No head coach has lasted more than two seasons in Las Vegas since Jon Gruden. Will Raiders owner Mark Davis pull the trigger after just one disappointing year? Davis's assessment of Carroll's fit with the front office's overall vision, particularly regarding offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, will be key. The atmosphere in Allegiant Stadium was toxic, quarterback Aidan Smith was booed relentlessly – at introductions, at halftime, and throughout the game – as the Raiders' offense sputtered, managing just 231 total yards. Smith, remember, signed a two-year, $75 million contract this offseason. Talk about buyer's remorse.