CLEVELAND, Ohio (TheOBR.com) Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
I was so set. I was so sure. Now, I’m not.
Yesterday morning, I was still reeling a bit after watching my beloved still-national-champion (the) Ohio State Buckeyes lose to Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship game. So, I sat down and wrote a column demanding that the Browns do what was necessary to acquire Mendoza in next year’s draft. He sure looked like the future to me, as I was determined to provide a definitive answer to the Browns quarterback quest.
Then, still dispirited due to football (a recurring theme in my life), I sat down (also a recurring theme) to watch the Browns take on the 1-11 Tennessee Titans. I was actually hoping the Browns would win because I figured a future trade with the Titans, who held the top pick, was the best way to grab Mendoza in the 2026 NFL draft.
So much for that. The Titans are no longer in the catbird seat for the top pick. That distinction now belongs to the New York Giants, thanks to the Browns’ stunning 31-29 loss to the struggling Titans, a chaotic team with a makeshift offensive line and a rookie quarterback dealing with the challenges of his first year. I had predicted the game would be close, and, for once, my paranoia proved justified as Jeffrey Simmons took over the game in the third quarter.
The good news out of this mess is that my concern about the team’s draft position might prove irrelevant. The Browns only need to trade up to the top spot in the case that they’re chasing Mendoza, and, for the first time in a while, I have the beginnings of doubt that may be a requirement.
Granted, it was against a team that was 1-11 for a reason, but Browns starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders showed great improvement against the Titans. Of course, he was inconsistent, as you would expect from a rookie quarterback. For example, he followed up a beautiful 35-yard strike to Harold Fannin by shortly thereafter tossing an ill-advised throw to Titans DB Xavier Watts. It’s a horrific generalization, but I long ago came to expect inconsistency from rookies not only game to game, but from quarter to quarter.
More importantly, however, Sanders showed that his hard work is paying off as he appears to be correcting a number of issues that came with him from Colorado. For instance, he was better at navigating the pocket than we’ve seen from him in the past, stepping up or rolling out as appropriate and keeping his eyes downfield. He made a series of absolutely beautiful throws en route to tossing for three touchdowns, 364 yards, and outplaying the 2025 Number One pick, Cam Ward.
After the game, YTownBuck responded to my bloviation from yesterday, and we engaged in a brief discussion about whether Sanders might negate the need to move up for Mendoza. I’m firmly in the “not yet” camp. Sanders still has to show that he can string together multiple good games before I’ll consider moving on from my preference for the clutch Indiana QB. But Sunday was a good start in that process.
Far too many times, the Browns have moved forward with a promising quarterback with a series of question marks surrounding him. I remember very clearly how “hope” was the keyword before the 2024 season when it came to Deshaun Watson fulfilling the team’s need at quarterback. We know how that turned out. Same with quarterbacks dating back to the early 2000s.
What I’m hoping for more desperately is a sense of certainty – that Sanders either proves or disproves himself as the team’s future quarterback in these next four games, so that the Browns can have a clear path to move forward this offseason. I can deal with either result, but I’m not sure I can deal with the typical muddiness after the regular season concludes. I want clarity.
Even better than having clarity at the end of the season would be to have a quarterback. I’m hoping that Sanders finishes the season with a Flacco-esque flourish, proving himself the answer to the team’s 25-year quest across the wilderness. Being able to concentrate our draft capital on other positions in the 2026 draft would be an insanely valuable gift to the Browns, who could quickly find themselves taken seriously in just a year if Sanders can prove himself.
Shedeur Sanders now has my full attention.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
OBR GOODIES
OBR VIDEO
Off the Leash, Episode 20: Titanic embarrassment – (cleveland19.com)
Browns Vs. Titans: OBR Post-Game Show – (youtube.com)
OBR ARTICLES
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns Go Down to Lowly Tennessee Titans Betting on their Rookies – Pete
Cleveland Browns Snap Counts vs Tennessee Titans Quick Takeaways – Jack
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 12/7/25 Get Mendoza – WRITER
MESSAGE BOARD POSTS
Haslams thoughts on todays embarrassment?
Why take the QB off the field ?
Official Insider Cleveland Browns – Tennessee Titans Thread
Cleveland Browns Snap Counts vs Tennessee Titans & Quick Takeaways
Ask the ? – Draft pick not wins!
I guess Sheduer Sanders was ready to progress
LiveWire Thread for 126 – Gameday vs. Titans
Most Offical of all Official Browns vs. Titans Game Threads
2026 QB Class Discussion Thread (CCG PG 72)
THE LIFTPositive news from the world of sports and beyond…
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Just putting this in here because I consume all these things, so I’m now indestructible, I guess. Yay, more me over a longer period of time! Everyone benefits! Put bourbon on this list and I’d be immortal.
WRAPPING UP
When not immediately regretting writing a bloviation, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
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