Shedeur Sanders made his fifth NFL start against the Buffalo Bills in Week 16.
Like many rookies, he’s had some good and some bad through his first month as an NFL starter. Week 16’s game was just that – some good and some bad.
From a statistics perspective, Sanders’ 69.0% completion rate was the highest of his career so far. The same can be said of his 49 rushing yards. That mark led the Browns on Dec. 21.
On the other hand, Sanders’ 157 passing yards were his second-fewest in a start, and he finished the game with multiple interceptions for a second straight week. The Browns’ offense was unable to take advantage of Buffalo’s miscues throughout the game, and Cleveland dropped a third straight game, 23-20.
Sprinkled through the tape from this game against the Bills are a couple of highlight throws that Sanders made while under duress as well as a few tight-window passes. But many of his pass attempts were at or near the line of scrimmage as Cleveland tried to lean on its run and short-passing game.
Sanders also had to exit Week 16’s game briefly after sustaining an injury to his right (throwing) pinky finger. He ultimately returned within one offensive play, but he had to wear a bandage and finger sleeve for the remainder of the game.
USA TODAY Sports tracked Sanders’ fifth NFL start vs. the Bills. Below is a look at his stats and highlights from the game.
Shedeur Sanders stats today
Completion rate: 20-of-29 (69.0%)
Passing yards: 157
Touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 2
Passer rating: 64.9
Rushing: Four carries for 49 yards (12.3 yards per carry)
Sacks: 2 (21 yards lost)
Shedeur Sanders takes another sack, intentional grounding penalty
After the Browns’ defense turned the Bills over on downs, Cleveland’s offense took the field and started off struggling. Sanders took his second sack of the game on the second play of the drive for a loss of eight yards as Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau and safety Jordan Poyer converged on him in the backfield.
One play later, Sanders backed up to the Browns’ 1-yard line and was flagged for intentional grounding as Rousseau nearly got home with a third sack. The rookie quarterback narrowly avoided a safety by getting rid of the ball shortly before he was taken down in the end zone.
Cleveland had to punt the ball away after a third-and-32 play ended in a Sanders incompletion.
Shedeur Sanders takes a sack on fourth down
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 at his team’s own 44 yard line. Sanders dropped back to pass and drifted backwards and to his right without throwing the ball. Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau closed in on the rookie quarterback from behind and dropped him for a loss of 14 yards.
It was the first sack Sanders had taken all game, but the result was a turnover on downs to give Buffalo the ball back on the Browns’ 30-yard line with five minutes left and holding a three-point lead.
Shedeur Sanders leads touchdown, field goal drives
The Browns have relied heavily on their run and short passing games in their last two drives, which have ended in a touchdown then a field goal to draw within three points of the Bills
Sanders’ longest passing play of the last two drives was a screen pass that running back Trayveon Williams caught close to the line of scrimmage before taking off for 26 yards.
The rookie quarterback is 6-of-8 for 34 yards and an interception in the second half so far with seven minutes left to play.
Shedeur Sanders throws another interception
On the Browns’ first possession in the second half, Sanders tried to throw a check-down pass to Harold Fannin Jr. on a first-and-10 play. Bills edge rusher Joey Bosa leapt to tip the pass into the air, and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones tracked the ball in the air before coming down with the interception.
It was Sanders’ second interception of the game, with both coming off of tipped passes. The latest pick gave the Bills the ball on Cleveland’s 25-yard line.
Shedeur Sanders stats at halftime
Completion rate: 11-of-16 (68.8%)
Passing yards: 103
Touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 1
Passer rating: 81.0
Rushing: Three carries for 35 yards (11.7 yards per carry)
Shedeur Sanders returns from locker room
Sanders missed just one offensive play with his injury. He returned back to the field for the Browns’ next possession wearing a bandage and sleeve on his affected right pinky finger.
Shedeur Sanders exits with apparent finger injury
Sanders got the Browns inside the Bills’ 5-yard line on his team’s third offensive possession of the game, but he had to exit with team trainers after sustaining an injury to his right pinky finger. Fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel entered for one play and took a sack before the Browns kicked a field goal.
CBS cameras caught a close-up glimpse of Sanders’ bloodied finger, and sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported that Sanders went to the locker room to get further treatment for the injury.
Through a quarter and a half before his injury, Sanders was 10-of-13 passing for 109 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also has 35 rushing yards on three carries.
Shedeur Sanders making plays with his legs
Halfway through the second quarter, Sanders is the Browns’ leading rusher with 35 yards on three attempts (11.7 yards per carry). Two of those three rush attempts were third-down scrambles after managing to avoid a sack. Sanders’ 35 yards rushing are already a career high for the rookie quarterback through six games (five starts).
His third rush of the day pushed Cleveland into the red zone.
Shedeur Sanders avoids sack, scrambles for first down
Sanders faced significant pressure on third-and-7 but managed to duck under a sack attempt from Bills defender Greg Rousseau. After escaping the pocket, the rookie quarterback found a hole in the middle of his protection up front and scrambled ahead for a 13-yard gain and Browns first down.
The play came one snap after Sanders avoided another sack attempt by getting rid of the ball just before he took a hit. He still hasn’t taken a sack through the first five minutes of the second quarter.
Shedeur Sanders throws interception off of tipped pass
Sanders had not thrown an incompletion in a drive and a half, but his throw to rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was hard and a bit behind his target. Judkins tipped the ball in the air, and Bills safety Jordan Poyer was in the right spot to snag his first interception since 2022.
Buffalo took over possession on its own 39-yard line after the interception.
Sanders is 8-of-9 on pass attempts for 84 yards, one touchdown and one interception through Cleveland’s first two offensive possessions.
Shedeur Sanders tosses touchdown on Browns’ first drive
Sanders led the Browns on an eight-play, 69-yard drive that included a perfect 5-of-5 mark on pass attempts for 58 yards. The rookie quarterback capped off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to fellow rookie Harold Fannin Jr. to give Cleveland an early 7-0 lead.
Deion Sanders in Cleveland to watch Shedeur Sanders’ fifth start
The Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado Buffaloes’ head football coach is in the house at Huntington Bank Stadium to watch his son make his fifth career start.
ESPN Cleveland shared a photo of Deion Sanders on the field ahead of the Browns’ Week 16 game against the Bills.
How to watch Shedeur Sanders today: Browns vs. Bills
TV channel: CBS
The Bears and Bills Week 16 matchup will air on CBS in select local markets.
What time do the Browns play today?
Start time: 1 p.m. ET | 10 a.m. PT
The Bears and Bills are one of several games in the early afternoon window.
Browns vs. Bills live stream
Live stream:Fubo | NFL+
Cord-cutters have a few options to watch Shedeur Sanders play today. Fubo carries CBS, Fox, ABC, ESPN and the NFL Networks, and also offers a free trial.
NFL+ and Fubo will also carry the game.
Watch NFL action all season with Fubo (free trial)
Shedeur Sanders stats
Through five appearances this season – one off the bench and four starts – here’s how Sanders has performed:
72/138 passing (52.1% completion rate)
946 passing yards
5 passing touchdowns
6 interceptions
10 rushing attempts
74 rushing yards
1 rushing touchdown
13 sacks
68.1 passer rating
