Shedeur Sanders Throws for 297 Yards After Saying Saints Smile Was Misread

• Shedeur Sanders said Wednesday that his smile about the Saints’ defense on film meant something, per CBS Sports.
• Before kickoff Sunday, Sanders said his remarks were taken out of context and that he would never talk down another team.
• Sanders threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of the season, and the Browns lost 23-22 in overtime after a failed two-point try.

Sanders Answered the Saints With 297 Yards, Then Came Up One Play Short

Shedeur Sanders smiled on Wednesday, and the New Orleans Saints noticed. Asked what he saw on film of their defense, the Cleveland Browns quarterback gave an answer with a grin. On Sunday, before kickoff, he told AJ Ross that his words had been misread. Then he played his first start of the season: 19-of-31 for 297 yards and two touchdowns. It ended with a two-point try that fell incomplete in overtime, and the Saints won 23-22.

What Sanders Said, Twice

Sanders prepared for Week 9 with Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol. At his Wednesday media availability, he was asked what he noticed on film of a Saints defense that ranked 28th in yards allowed per game and 29th in scoring entering the game.

“I’ve seen a lot,” Sanders said with a grin when asked what he noticed on film. “When I smile, just know that means something. I’m maturing, you know what I’m saying? I’m maturing. I could have gave that a decent answer, but now I’m just going to smile whenever it’s just, like, some questions, you know?”

He did not criticize the New Orleans defense outright. By Sunday, Sanders had an explanation.

“Everything I do up to this point is taken out of context, but I can’t be one caring about what people say,” Sanders told AJ Ross pregame. “I would never disrespect or ever talk down another opponent or another team, so that’s just another trick in the media that they use. However they feel, they feel. I don’t care how they feel.”

How the Saints Heard It

Saints edge rusher Carl Granderson saw what Sanders said, and he spoke about it ahead of the game.

“We’re gonna come in with a chip on our shoulder for sure,” Granderson said. “They’ve been chirping a little bit. We see what the quarterback done said. We’re finna come in hot and ready to play. We’re going to pack the defense, and the offense is going to come with it. It’s going to be a good game for sure. We’re going to come out with the dub.”

What Sanders Did With the Start

The game stayed tied at 6-6 until midway through the fourth quarter. Charlie Smyth’s 48-yard field goal put New Orleans up 9-6 with 5:38 left. The Browns answered with a 64-yard touchdown catch by rookie KC Concepcion, the first touchdown of his career. Audric Estime then scored from 2 yards out with 58 seconds left, and the Saints led 16-13.

Sanders got the ball back. He found Jerry Jeudy for a 30-yard gain, and Andre Szmyt’s 51-yard field goal tied the game and sent it to overtime. Tyler Shough threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson to cap the Saints’ overtime possession. Sanders answered with a 39-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr.

Browns coach Todd Monken elected to go for the win instead of settling for, at best, a potential tie. Sanders’ throw to Denzel Boston was incomplete. The Browns were flagged for holding on the play as well. Aggressive calls draw arguments elsewhere too: Jared Goff defended Lions coach Dan Campbell’s fourth-and-1 call that a blocked kick rescued.

Sanders’ Season So Far

Sanders, a second-year quarterback, was a fifth-round pick and is the son of Deion Sanders. He briefly entered the previous week’s 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers when Watson took a big hit in the first quarter, attempted two passes, and had thrown just three times all season before Sunday. It was his first start after last season, when he spent seven weeks as the Browns’ No. 1 quarterback.

Quarterback injuries have forced changes elsewhere too. Baltimore turned to undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano after two of them.

What Comes Next

The Browns have dropped two in a row and sit at 5-4. They host the Texans next Sunday before a Week 11 bye. The Saints improved to 3-5 and host the Panthers next Sunday. Sanders leaves his first start of the year with 297 yards, two touchdowns and an incomplete pass on the decisive play.