Cleveland Browns meltdown: Special teams disaster and Shedeur Sanders struggles in crushing 26-8 loss
The Cleveland Browns faced a disheartening reality in Shedeur Sanders’ inaugural home start, culminating in a lopsided 26-8 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers. The offense sputtered, the defense faltered under pressure, and the special teams unit was nothing short of disastrous. With few bright spots in this performance, let’s delve into three key takeaways from the game.
Shedeur Sanders starts strong but falters
Sanders kicked off the game with promising signs, effectively utilizing six different receivers to orchestrate a fluid offensive rhythm. The Browns found themselves on the brink of the red zone early on but fell short on a crucial fourth down attempt. However, the rookie quarterback soon capitalized on a run-heavy strategy, connecting with Harold Fannin Jr. on a dazzling 34-yard touchdown pass.
From that moment, Sanders’ performance took a downturn. The offense stagnated, and he struggled with several deep throws, taking some harsh sacks along the way. A particularly alarming moment came when a poorly executed slide left him nursing a leg injury. Ultimately, he concluded the game with a modest 16 completions on 25 attempts for 149 yards and a touchdown. His performances thus far have been inconsistent at best, leaving questions about his potential as a long-term solution for the Browns at quarterback.
Run defense shines despite overall defeat
Despite the loss, the Browns’ run defense delivered a standout performance against one of the league’s premier running backs, Christian McCaffrey. Known for his explosive style, McCaffrey was effectively contained, averaging a mere 2.7 yards per carry and finishing with just 53 rushing yards, aside from a single touchdown.
Rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger emerged as a key contributor, racking up an impressive 11 tackles. Devin Bush added seven tackles, while the defensive line displayed tenacity throughout the contest. Myles Garrett, continuing to assert his dominance, recorded his 19th sack of the season and played a significant role in stifling the 49ers’ ground game. The efforts of Mason Graham were also noteworthy, as he turned in one of his best performances as a Brown.
As the offseason approaches, retaining this defensive core will be critical for the Browns. With several players, including Bush and Collins, set to enter free agency, the team must prioritize keeping these impactful contributors in Cleveland.
Special teams continue to disappoint
In football, the importance of special teams is often underscored until they become a liability. Unfortunately for the Browns, this phase of the game proved detrimental in their loss to the 49ers. The game’s initial momentum shifted dramatically when a 66-yard punt return by Skyy Moore set up San Francisco’s first touchdown from the 16-yard line. The Browns’ defense managed to limit the drive to six plays, but could not hold off the inevitable.
Late in the third quarter, another miscue occurred when Malachi Corley let a kickoff go out of bounds, placing the Browns deep in their own territory at the 5-yard line instead of near midfield. This costly decision nearly resulted in a safety, forcing the Browns to punt from a precarious position.
The final straw came when Gage Larvadain muffed a punt inside the red zone, allowing the 49ers to seize another scoring opportunity and effectively seal the game. This marks the second time in recent weeks that the Browns’ special teams have faltered at critical moments. The pressure now mounts on special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, as the team faces limited time to rectify these recurring issues.
