Winning within the NFL, particularly towards a division rival, can cowl up a whole lot of points for a workforce.
Take the Cleveland Browns, for instance, who pulled off a considerably shocking (however probably not) victory on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The win was Cleveland’s sixth prior to now seven house video games towards Pittsburgh, and had the bonus of denying the Steelers, who seemed more interested in stopping Myles Garrett than actually winning, an opportunity at clinching the division title.
Advertisement
Victory Mondays are at all times enjoyable, in fact, particularly for a fanbase that has skilled so few of them these previous two seasons. But it additionally got here with a price, one which the Browns won’t have to pay for a number of months, however that may outline the trajectory of the franchise.
With the win, the Browns have eradicated themselves from the potential for having the No. 1 general choice within the 2026 NFL Draft. Cleveland is at present sitting at No. 6 and noticed their possibilities of deciding on within the Top 5 fall from 88 p.c to 55 p.c with the victory, relying on how the ultimate weekend of the season performs out.
No one within the locker room goes to be upset in regards to the workforce’s draft place, however the entrance workplace wants to have a big-picture view, and that view reveals that the quarterback place is way from settled.
After placing up 10 factors within the first quarter towards the Steelers, the Browns may solely handle three factors over the ultimate three quarters. They had all of two first downs and 42 yards of offense within the second half.
Advertisement
That continues the season-long stretch of poor offensive play by the Browns, the place beginning quarterbacks Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders have mixed to put up the bottom QBR within the league at 24.7, according to ESPN.
Despite some post-game proclamations that Sanders has “taken another step toward the 2026 quarterback job,” it’s troublesome to have a look at the numbers and suppose the Browns see it the identical approach.
Sanders has now made six begins and has a Total EPA of minus-52.02 (rating No. 70), an EPA/Play of minus-0.23 (No. 58), and a Pass/EPA of minus-60.54 (No. 71), according to Sumer Sports. Those numbers are all worse than what Gabriel put up in his six begins.
That additionally factors again to what we wrote a month in the past about how simply being slightly better, or in reality just as bad, as the previous guy is not a ringing endorsement to title somebody the reply on the quarterback place.
Advertisement
There can also be nonetheless no tangible proof that Sanders can take over the position in 2026, even after a full coaching camp of treasured first-team apply reps. But that’s the place the Browns discover themselves in the intervening time, with what seem to be two paths to take within the offseason:
-
Pour all their assets into Sanders because the starter and hope he exhibits precise enchancment. Not “he’s not Gabriel, so anything he does is acceptable,” however actual enchancment. Maybe Cleveland truly discovered gold within the fifth spherical of the draft, and issues lastly begin to flip round. If not, prepare for one more lengthy yr and tales about Jimmy Haslam’s eager for Arch Manning within the 2027 NFL Draft.
-
Use as a lot draft capital as wanted to transfer up to choose both Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore (in the event that they each declare for the draft), after which commerce Sanders for what they will get, as a result of having him because the backup shouldn’t be going to work. That goes to be expensive, and after three years with no first-round draft choose, thanks to the Deshaun Watson commerce, it may be powerful to swallow. But if Cleveland desires a type of two gamers, there is no such thing as a different approach to get them.
We clearly received’t know which approach the Browns will go till the draft rolls round subsequent spring, however that’s the scenario they at present discover themselves in after Sunday’s win towards the Steelers.
And whereas that victory feels good now, there could be some purchaser’s remorse in a number of months when the invoice comes due.