The Chicago Bears encountered minimal difficulty in neutralizing Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns during their Sunday afternoon contest.
Chicago’s Bears secured a commanding 31-3 victory at Soldier Field, fueled by Caleb Williams’ impressive performance. With this win, Chicago’s record advances to 10-4 for the season, having triumphed in six of their recent seven matchups, putting them in a strong position for their initial playoff berth since 2020.
Sanders found it difficult to generate any significant offense for the Browns throughout Sunday’s game. During their defeat, he managed only 18 completions out of 35 attempts for 177 yards, tossing two interceptions solely in the third quarter, which enabled the Bears to establish a substantial lead. The initial turnover occurred when D’Marco Jackson deflected a Sanders throw upwards and then secured the ball himself deep within Cleveland’s half of the field.
Although that particular play wasn’t strictly Sanders’ responsibility, it stood in sharp opposition to the accomplishment Williams achieved with DJ Moore on the very next down.
Sanders subsequently threw a second interception on their subsequent possession, attempting to force a long pass to Jerry Jeudy in the end zone. The Bears capitalized on this turnover as well, converting it into a touchdown with a 17-yard rush by D’Andre Swift just nine downs afterward.
Sanders committed his last interception of the losing effort midway through the fourth quarter. He attempted to throw a soft pass to Harold Fannin but failed to get enough distance on it, enabling C.J. Gardner-Johnson to secure a straightforward interception.
This resulted in a field goal for the Bears, ultimately culminating in their 28-point victory.
Commendably, Sanders did guide the Browns into a position to score during their last offensive series of the contest. He successfully connected on eight throws — almost half of his total completions for the entire game — moving them within the 10-yard line. However, the Bears brought him down for two sacks, forcing a change of possession and concluding the match.
Williams concluded the game for Chicago with 17 completions on 28 attempts, accumulating 242 passing yards and two touchdowns in their triumph. Swift achieved 98 rushing yards and two scores across 18 attempts, while Moore secured two touchdowns and 69 receiving yards from four receptions. Sanders also led the Browns in rushing, gaining 24 yards on two carries. Quinshon Judkins contributed 21 yards on 12 carries, and Isaiah Bond recorded 89 yards on two catches.
The Browns, currently on a three-game losing streak, are scheduled to host the Buffalo Bills in their upcoming weekend matchup.
Myles Garrett Nears All-Time Sack Mark
The solitary positive for the Browns? Myles Garrett is now merely one sack away from matching the league’s all-time single-season record. Garrett achieved 1.5 sacks on Sunday, elevating his seasonal total to 21.5. He requires just one more sack across the forthcoming three contests to equal the achievements of Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Strahan established the record in 2002 during the NFL’s 16-game format; Watt matched this feat in 2021, participating in 15 of Pittsburgh’s 17 scheduled games that year.
Cleveland’s Future Quarterback Strategy: What’s Next?
Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski has previously confirmed that Sanders will remain the team’s starting quarterback for the remainder of the current campaign. Sunday’s defeat reduced their record to a mere 3-11, and they have already been excluded from playoff contention for two consecutive seasons. Allowing Sanders to continue playing and gain experience as a primary signal-caller can only benefit his development as an athlete, and the squad has minimal downsides to face at this juncture.
Nevertheless, the Browns will once more face a significant quarterback decision in the upcoming months, and an unambiguous correct solution remains elusive.
While Sanders’ performance hasn’t been exceptional — Sunday’s setback at Soldier Field serving as a prime illustration — he has demonstrated promising moments. For instance, he accounted for three touchdowns and exceeded 360 passing yards in the previous week’s game against the Tennessee Titans, despite the Browns still suffering a defeat. Yet, he has committed numerous poor errors and exhibits a definite absence of reliability. And, arguably more crucially, the Browns are not securing victories with him at the helm.
Cleveland could potentially revert to Deshaun Watson, who was cleared to resume practice earlier this month following two Achilles tears. He has not participated in any games this season and is improbable to do so. However, Watson, to whom the Browns awarded a completely guaranteed $230 million contract, was formerly an exceptional quarterback prior to his injuries and an 11-game suspension. Should he recover and experience a career revival in his later years, it’s conceivable that he could be the Browns’ starting quarterback for at least the next several seasons.
Alternatively, the Browns might choose to pursue an entirely different path and decide to acquire another quarterback during the NFL Draft in April. With a 3-11 record, Cleveland is anticipated to possess another high-value draft selection. This upcoming draft class also presents numerous potential candidates for them.
Irrespective of their chosen course of action, it is evident that Sanders has not sufficiently demonstrated his capability to be the Browns’ long-term solution. Unless a significant transformation occurs in the forthcoming three weeks, Cleveland’s quarterback dilemma is poised to extend into the subsequent season.
