In a roller-coaster afternoon at snowy Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Cleveland Browns suffered a gut-wrenching 31–29 loss to the Tennessee Titans — a defeat shaped by defensive breakdowns, special teams mistakes, and one of the most electrifying quarterback performances the franchise has seen in years.
What began as a day of hope — with Coach Prime in attendance and Myles Garrett hunting the sack record — ended in frustration and questions about coaching decisions at critical moments.
Shedeur Sanders: A True Superman Performance
If any doubt remained about the Browns’ rookie quarterback, this game silenced it.
Shedeur Sanders delivered a Superman-level outing, finishing with the official stat line:
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23/42 passing
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364 yards
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3 passing touchdowns
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1 rushing touchdown
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4 total TDs
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1 interception
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97.7 passer rating
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2 sacks for –13 yards
Sanders played with exceptional poise in the snow, extending plays, firing lasers into tight windows, and carrying the Browns through multiple deficits. His athleticism, decision-making, and leadership were on full display.
When the Browns were on the ropes, Sanders kept them alive.
When the offense needed a spark, he delivered it.
This wasn’t just a breakout — it was an arrival.
Harold Fannin Jr.: Breakout Day Confirms a Rising Star
Another major storyline was Harold Fannin Jr., who delivered the best game of his young career — and one of the most impressive performances by any rookie tight end this season.
His official ESPN stat line:
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8 receptions
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114 receiving yards
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14.3 yards per catch
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1 touchdown
Fannin was Sanders’ most reliable weapon all afternoon. Whether winning in tight coverage, creating yards after the catch, or stretching the seams, he repeatedly punished Tennessee’s defense. His late-game touchdown grab — on a spectacular Sanders throw — was one of the plays of the day.
Fannin has been excellent all year and deserves serious consideration for NFL All-Rookie Tight End honors.
Quarterback Comparison: Sanders Outplays Cam Ward — but Still Loses
One of the most striking outcomes of this game was how decisively Shedeur Sanders outplayed Cam Ward, yet still walked away with a loss.
Cam Ward — Titans:
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14/28 passing
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117 yards
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2 TDs
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1 INT
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4.2 yards per attempt
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1 sack for –9 yards
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70.1 passer rating
Ward was efficient in the red zone but largely quiet.
Tennessee didn’t ask him to win the game — because they didn’t have to.
Titans Win Behind Rushing Attack and Browns’ Miscues
The real foundation of Tennessee’s victory was its dominant running game, which repeatedly gashed Cleveland’s defense and dictated the pace of the game.
Titans Team Rushing:
| Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Back | 25 | 161 | 6.4 | 2 | 65 |
| RB2 | 8 | 19 | 2.4 | 0 | 8 |
| Others | 2 | 4 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Team Total | 35 | 184 | 5.3 | 2 | 65 |
Cleveland was shredded:
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Missed tackles
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Poor gap discipline
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Failure to set edges
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No interior presence without Maliek Collins
This, combined with:
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A blocked punt
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Two failed 2-point conversions
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A costly fumble
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Defensive breakdowns at key moments
…ultimately buried the Browns despite Sanders’ heroics.
Fourth Quarter: Sanders Tries to Drag the Browns Back
After Tennessee extended its lead with a 41-yard field goal at the 6:17 mark, the Browns trailed 31–17. Cleveland Stadium felt deflated. Snow swirled. The Titans appeared ready to close the door.
Then Shedeur Sanders took over the game.
TD Drive #1 — A Superman Scramble
With pressure collapsing, Sanders escaped chaos, cut upfield, and scrambled in for a stunning touchdown — a pure athletic masterpiece.
“Shedeur Sanders with an amazing scramble, breaks free, and runs it in for a TD!
Wow — the kid has really improved. Pure playmaking.”
The score reignited the stadium and set the stage for something special.
TD Drive #2 — An Impossible Throw to Fannin
Moments after taking a hit and seeing Fannin drop a deep ball, Sanders went right back to him — and delivered the best throw of his young career.
Rolling right, fading sideways, Sanders launched an absolutely insane deep-corner strike to Harold Fannin Jr. for a jaw-dropping touchdown.
“Shedeur Sanders with an absolutely insane throw to Harold Fannin Jr. — TOUCHDOWN!!
Oh. My. Goodness.”
It was a franchise-quarterback moment.
The Crushing Blow: Two Failed 2-Point Attempts
Despite Sanders’ brilliance, the Browns failed him in the biggest moments.
Both two-point attempts failed, including the final one — controversially — without Sanders on the field.
The Browns lost by exactly two points.
Sanders delivered.
Cleveland Coaches didn’t.
A Defense That Lost Its Identity
The Browns’ defense — normally elite — simply did not show up.
Explosive runs, poor tackling, misaligned fits, and soft coverage plagued them throughout. The absence of Maliek Collins was glaring, and Tennessee attacked the interior ruthlessly.
Even with Myles Garrett securing his 20th sack of the season, the unit never found its rhythm.
Special Teams Meltdown: The Turning Point
The blocked punt was catastrophic.
A Titans defender came in completely unblocked, stuffed the punt, and gave Tennessee a short field — which they converted into points. In a game decided by two, this mistake loomed enormous.
Final Minutes End in Heartbreak
The Browns attempted an onside kick after cutting the deficit to 31–29.
It wasn’t close. Tennessee recovered. Game over.
Sanders and Fannin delivered everything they could.
But the Browns delivered too many mistakes.
Final Thoughts: A Loss with Lasting Implications
This game will be remembered for two things:
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Shedeur Sanders officially announced himself as the Browns’ quarterback of the future.
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The coaching staff is taking the ball out of his hands on the most important play.
The Titans came in with the league’s worst record at 1-11.
The Browns left with one of their most disappointing losses.
But amid the frustration, one truth stands out:
The future of the Cleveland Browns — Shedeur Sanders and Harold Fannin Jr. — is bright.
Now the rest of the offensive operation must rise to meet them.
The post Shedeur Sanders Delivers a Superman Performance, but Browns Still Fall to Titans appeared first on Last Word on NFL.