Dec 01, 2025
3 min read
While Sanders had his moments, the loss to the 49ers was a fall back into reality after the Browns went with the offensive lineman in Week 12.
Cleveland - Browns Coach Lions Browns Coach Kevin Steads Kevin Sanders (3-9) Covers Reporters after Tennessee Titans (1-11) نقصان
Many good tickets are still there, incidentally, and it is like the Brone are a miss.But Sanders standing in front of the rally is one of the few certainty for Cleveland after Sunday's 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49 Ers served as a reminder that the team noticed a chance to give up an opportunity.
Sanders' first start at home was largely forgettable.The Browns scored just one touchdown and finished with fewer than 17 points for the seventh time this season.Sanders had a pair of punts sure to bring them back and a home run, a 34-yard touchdown run by Harold Fannin Jr. that the starting tight end turned into a touchdown, drawing two would-be tacklers along the goal line.
But the Browns immediately pulled away and took the lead before halftime.In the third quarter, Stefanski tried to convert to convert on fourth down by moving instead of changing things in the defense of the guard.A rare event for the last 15 seconds of the game ended, which pressured the snap and the 49ers to more field conditions.
Thanks to their usual awful special teams play and the aforementioned fourth down, the Browns' second of the day, the 49ers went 16, 32 and 18 yards respectively on three touchdowns to seal the win.
The Browns added two of those by allowing a 66-yard punt return in the first quarter and giving the ball back to the visiting team early in the fourth quarter when Gage Larvadain fumbled a punt.
And one of the most exciting special teams plays of the day.It came in the third quarter when Malachi Corley hit an improbable touchdown pass inches from the sideline after the 49ers were up 17-8.Corley was out of bounds, and instead of allowing the ball and giving the Browns new possession at the 40, they started in the shadow of their own goal and went three-and-out.
This is what they do: frequent special teams mistakes and an offense that runs, punts, misses, and fumbles that almost never produce explosive plays.Sanders' touchdown pass was the Browns' only play of more than 18 yards on the dayBefore garbage time, there were only four plays that gained more than 10 yards
Cleveland made 27 of its 60 possessions in the final series in the second half.San Francisco rarely gained more yards than needed, but Brown's fumble led to a three-point victory a day later.Sanders' first home start created a bit of buzz, and Myles Garrett put up another sack en route to chasing the NFL's single-season sack record.
But the story of the day is that the sky is just bad that the starting full-time patron of the 49th is completely out of the 49th filled with starting employment (body) and Jack Conklin (flavor) with injuries.
Last year the Browns went 3-14 with a terrible offense, a quarterback carousel and lingering concerns about roster quality in key areas.The Browns have been similar in many ways this year and have been worse in punt coverage.Sanders is showing some level of promise and putting up strong numbers (91 rushing yards on Sunday) in running backs Fannin and Quinshawn Judkins and the team's special teams.This offense stinks loudly, even if the units continue to perform in ways that don't.
The offensive line continues to show its age, and the new development Sunday was Stefanski partially demoting guard Wyatt Teller. In his 100th career start, Teller alternated series with Teven Jenkins on Sunday. Neither Jenkins nor Teller are under contract for next year, and Teller said after the game that he thought his role would be removed because he wasn't playing well enough. Outside of defense, who is better, Judkins orFannin?Collins suffered a serious injury in the third quarter that could have ended his Pro Bowl-like season.
Sanders wasn't great.The Browns turned the ball over early, and Fannin's touchdown capped an impressive 90-yard drive.But Sanders missed Jerry Jeudy on what would have been a big play on the first play after getting into the pocket and seeing a receiver behind the defense.So the Browns punted instead of getting a 66-yard touchdown or at least getting into the red zone, and Skyy Moore took that punt 66 yards to give the 49ers a red-zone start.
Mostly, Sanders threw short passes.He avoided turning the ball over, going 16-of-25 for 149 yards, but the passing game didn't really generate momentum or establish any real rhythm.According to NFL Next Generation Stats, Sanders averaged 3.37 seconds, the longest by a Browns quarterback in three seasons, but managed just five illegal plays of more than 10 yards.Judy After a turnover penalty forced the Browns to punt again in the first quarter, Sanders drove Cleveland back to midfield and led to a punt.
The Browns went 3-for-11 on third downs and 0-for-4 on fourth downs.Although they had a 52% success rate against the 49ers, winning by eight points, they entered the day with the lowest success rate in the league (33.9%).This is to showcase the Browns' former private team during New York's warm winters.
Ironically, Sunday's loss was a difficult return for Garrett after Garrett and the defense were celebrated by the Las Vegas Railers and Sanders successfully fumbled the ball on their first possession.The browns continued to kill off punts and crunch time.Sanders obviously needs more time, more reps and more opportunities, so give those who have poured.
But the feeling at the end of a windy and bitterly cold Sunday in Cleveland was one of doom and defeat.The Browns' continued inability to score, play smart football or maximize opportunities suggests that little progress is being made.
Because the Browns can't line up, aren't rushing for yards when they really need to, and can't find any returners who understand the money and protect the ball, it may be time for a change. Even while continuing to fight the bad guys and the Heat, this offense — and the general usage — is still a hundred miles away.
