The Cleveland Browns face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST on CBS at the Superdome, with the Browns turning to backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders as Deshaun Watson remains in the concussion protocol.
The Cleveland Browns arrive in Louisiana sitting two games above .500 at 5-3, yet they find themselves scrapping for third place in a congested AFC North. Across the field, the New Orleans Saints sit at 2-5, desperately hunting for traction in an NFC South where every team feels within striking distance. Both squads enter Sunday’s matchup trying to solve glaring first-quarter offensive struggles that have routinely forced them into early deficits.
Shedeur Sanders Steps In
Cleveland will likely play Sunday without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, who entered the NFL's concussion protocol after missing multiple practices this week, according to cbssports.com. That thrusts backup Shedeur Sanders into the starting role under the dome.
Sanders went 3-4 as a starter during his rookie campaign last year. Now, he takes the reins against a New Orleans defense that currently ranks 28th in total yards allowed per game, giving up 372.7 yards on average, cbssports.com reported.
Sanders said his smile means something regarding his preparation and confidence facing the Saints defense. He added that he is maturing and noted that while he could have given a decent answer, he was just going to smile.
New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore acknowledged the tight margins across his division this week. “You look at the division, and everyone is right there,” Moore said, as reported by cbssports.com. “Everything is still alive and in front of us.”
Saints and Browns Struggle in Opening Quarters
Both teams have made a habit of playing catch-up. The Saints own the league’s second-worst first-quarter point differential, getting outscored 44-6 across their first seven games. Meanwhile, the Browns hold the worst opening-stanza differential in the NFL at 65-13, though they have managed to weather those early storms better than their hosts.
“It’s not the optimal way to win, right? I mean, it’s obvious,” Browns coach Todd Monken said, according to cbssports.com. “The good news is we’re 5-3 and we have every opportunity to flip that script.”
The matchup also features a high-profile individual duel on the outside as Saints wide receiver Chris Olave lines up against Browns top cornerback Denzel Ward. Both former first-round draft picks out of Ohio State, Olave paces New Orleans with 49 receptions for 636 yards and two touchdowns, while Ward leads Cleveland with three interceptions and eight passes defensed.
Vegas oddsmakers currently list the Saints as 4 1/2-point favorites, even as New Orleans searches for its first home win at the Superdome, sitting at 0-3 in New Orleans and 0-4 overall as the designated home team including their international loss to Pittsburgh in Paris.
