Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was thrust into an unforgiving NFL baptism of fire during his professional debut, delivering a performance that on paper looked horrific, yet somehow managed to earn the fervent praise of prominent sports pundit Skip Bayless.
A Debut to Forget, But A Pundit Impressed
The son of NFL legend Deion Sanders entered the game under challenging circumstances, replacing an injured Dillon Gabriel at halftime with the Browns holding a 16-10 lead over their division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. What followed was a dramatic fourth-quarter collapse, with Cleveland surrendering 13 points to ultimately lose 23-16.
Sanders' individual statistics painted a bleak picture of his first NFL action. He managed to complete just 4 of his 16 pass attempts for a meagre 47 yards. His performance was further marred by one interception and two sacks, culminating in an almost unbelievably low QBR of 2.4 and an equally dismal passer rating of 13.5.
Bayless Bucks the Narrative with Unwavering Belief
Despite the statistical carnage, Skip Bayless took to his X account to post a nearly 15-minute long video rant defending the young quarterback. He opened his passionate defence by stating, "Man, Shedeur Sanders finally got his shot when I least expected it."
Bayless acknowledged the difficult position Sanders was in, admitting that glancing at the numbers would have "haters... howling at the moon." While he conceded he "can't defend" the paltry stats or the blown lead, his belief in the rookie remained unshaken.
"I saw flashes of vintage Colorado, Jackson State Shedeur Sanders," Bayless insisted. "I believe in this kid with all my heart and soul, I believe in his poise, I believe in his accuracy, I believe in his makeup, I believe in his toughness... I just believe in his 'it' factor."
The Final Drive and a Team-Wide Collapse
The former Fox pundit specifically highlighted two throws on the team's final, desperate drive – a 25-yard completion to tight end Harold Fannin and a 10-yard strike to Jerry Jeudy – as evidence of Sanders' potential. He dismissed the five incomplete passes on that same drive, offering excuses for each, including that a "better receiver would've won the hand fight" on one target.
While the quarterback's debut was undeniably rough, the Cleveland Browns' loss was a team effort. The defence, despite sacking Lamar Jackson five times, allowed 351 total offensive yards to Baltimore. The Browns' offence as a whole managed a paltry 187 yards. Sanders' drives resulted in four punts, an interception, and a turnover on downs.
This defeat drops the Cleveland Browns to a disappointing 2-8 record for the season. The team will now look to regroup as they travel to face the Las Vegas Raiders in their next outing.
