Former Colorado star Shedeur Sanders put on a show Sunday, even if the scoreboard did not cooperate. The Cleveland Browns fell 31–29 to the Titans, but the rookie quarterback gave Buffs fans plenty to cheer about, stacking production, showing poise, and a little late drama into his biggest NFL outing yet.
Sanders went 23 of 42 for 364 yards and three touchdowns, then added 29 rushing yards and a score on three carries. The arm talent popped all afternoon—touch throws outside the numbers, layered seams, and a red zone rip that felt a lot like what we saw last year from Shedeur in Boulder.
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The ending will sting. After a fourth quarter Cleveland surge, the Browns lined up for the game-tying two-point try, and Sanders was on the sideline while the staff rolled out a Wildcat snap to Quinshon Judkins. Stuffed. Ballgame. It is the sort of decision that lives on talk radio for a week, especially on a day when your rookie quarterback was dealing.
On the other sideline stood Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick. Box for box, Sanders looked better: cleaner operation, bigger throws, fewer loose plays. Not to say Ward played poorly, but it is becoming more and more clear that Shedeur deserved to be a top pick from the get-go.
The loss drops Cleveland to a very rough 3–10, but the tape is the headline. This was a big-boy start from a rookie who looks more comfortable every week. For Buffs fans, it felt familiar—the arm, the composure, the late-game juice—and it hints at a lot more to come. After the game, Shedeur handled the presser the way he always did in Colorado: steady, accountable, no excuses, just next steps.