The Browns managed a 24-10 win over the Raiders on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, a milestone given it was the first start in the career of quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who certainly showed enough ability in his debut to warrant a second start against the 49ers in Week 13.
Sanders was not quite Otto Graham out there, with 11-for-20 passing and 209 yards, 66 of which came on a screen pass to fellow rookie running back Dylan Sampson. But given the dominance of the Browns defense, all Sanders really needed to do was stay out of the way, and with the exception of one poor pass for an interception, he did that.
It was his veteran star receiver who truly had a brain cramp on Sunday, ruining what might have been the best throw of Sanders’ short career. That was receiver Jerry Jeudy, who took a deep pass from Sanders late in the second half and ran up the right side until he paused and high-stepped as he prepared to put a move the Raiders defensive backs.
Instead, while Jeudy’s histrionics were ongoing, defensive back Jeremy Chinn slid in behind him and punched the ball out, causing a turnover and erasing the good vibes of Sanders’ 39-yard play.
Browns Gave Jerry Jeudy a $52 Million Deal
Jeudy had 1,229 yards and earned a Pro Bowl spot for the Browns last season, but has struggled this season. That is, in part, because of the team’s inability to find a quarterback–Cleveland traded away Joe Flacco after the first month of the year, and installed light-throwing rookie Dillon Gabriel as the starter.
Jeudy is on pace for just 610 yards this year. He is in the second season of a three-year, $52 million WR1 contract and while there has been criticism of the Browns offense for not getting him the ball, some of that falls on Jeudy himself. He is rated No. 102 on the Pro Football Focus rankings of wide receivers, out of a total of 123 graded receivers.
Jerry Jeudy Made ‘All-Time Dumb Play’
At The Athletic, Browns beat reporter Zac Jackson had a rough assessment of Jeudy’s performance this season on his podcast, “Zac Jackson and Friends.” Here’s how Jackson put it:
“It’s about making plays. Win or lose, make or miss, and it goes down. Today, we don’t remember the 39-yard reception by Jerry Jeudy, we remember the all-time dumb play where he comes to a stop and gets the ball stripped. And he continues to be, probably based on salary and role on his team, he probably continues to be the most embarrassing player in the National Football League.
“For an offense that continues to disappoint, even in a win.
Browns Wasting Top Defense
Even if that sounds a bit too harsh, Jackson’s wider point is one surely shared by Browns fans: That the team has a monumental defense this season, emphasized by the 10 sacks the team racked up on Sunday, which is going to waste thanks to rampant offensive ineptitude.
The Browns are, according to Pro Football Focus, the No. 2 defense in the NFL, and the league leaders in rush defense and pass rush. Yet they’re 3-8.
“That’s probably my main takeaway today,” Jackson said. “Call me negative, but I am a realist. I watch this defense do this, and I know the Raiders are pathetic, but I think about the opportunities squandered and how they’re just (expletive) away this defense. And this year.”
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