CLEVELAND, Ohio – Shedeur Sanders, wearing No. 12 for the Cleveland Browns, made history as the 42nd quarterback to start for the team since its return in 1999. This is a notable achievement, considering the Chicago Bears have had only 30 starting QBs in the same period.
While Sanders led the Browns to a 24-10 victory against the Raiders, Browns legend Bernie Kosar was recovering from a liver transplant. As he marked his 62nd birthday, fans reminisced about Kosar, who is the last quarterback to lead the team to back-to-back winning seasons from 1986-89.
Reflecting on the current state of the Browns, fans who started following the team recently have seen an ever-rotating door of quarterbacks. Since Baker Mayfield, who started 59 games and took the team to the 2020 playoffs, the Browns have had ten different starting quarterbacks in just three and a half seasons.
Younger fans might be overwhelmed. Imagine learning about your team only to find a carousel of QBs: Jacoby Brissett, Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and more. Now, Sanders joins this lengthy list.
Shedeur Sanders isn’t just another name; he comes from a football family. His father, Deion Sanders, is an NFL Hall of Famer and a huge influence in his career. During his first game, Sanders faced a lot of pressure as the Browns struggled with a 2-8 record. Yet, he maintained his composure, responding to critics who doubted him. “A lot of people want me to fail. That ain’t gonna happen,” he declared after the game.
In terms of performance, he displayed notable skills amidst adversity. The Browns’ defense, with ten sacks, played a big role in their win, but Sanders also shone. He threw for over 200 yards, with standout passes to rookies Isaiah Bond and Jerry Jeudy that offered a glimpse of what’s possible for the team.
Interestingly, Sanders is the first Browns rookie to win his first start since Eric Zeier in 1995. This accomplishment places him in a unique group of quarterbacks with winning records: Brian Hoyer and Joe Flacco are the only other QBs to achieve this since 1999.
As a new chapter unfolds for the Cleveland Browns, it appears that the faithful fans may have a reason to hope that Shedeur Sanders can break the cycle of instability and bring some much-needed success to the franchise.
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