Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns kicked off their preseason with a 30-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. QB Shedeur Sanders was under center for much of the game, and fans across the country were curious how the popular quarterback would do, despite technically being fourth on the team’s depth chart. Let’s get to the full game recap to see how he did.
The Browns got the opening kickoff, putting Sanders on offense immediately. After a handoff to RB Dylan Sampson for 5 yards, Sanders’ first pass was a quick slant to WR Diontae Johnson, but it was a tad high or too hot and off his hands. On 3rd-and-5, Sanders threw a quick-hitter to WR Kaden Davis for four yards, but he ran his route just shy of the sticks.
P Corey Bojorquez came on and boomed a 62-yard punt, and then the Browns’ defense forced a three-and-out to get the ball right back to the offense. On that defensive third down, DE Alex Wright and DE Sam Kamara were credited with the coverage sack. Cleveland’s next offensive possession began at their own 39 yard line.
Sanders’ second drive was a mixed bag. He scrambled for one first down on third down, and threw a nice strike to WR Jamari Thrash for 11 yards to set up a 4th-and-1 at the Panthers’ 26 yard line. Cleveland went for it, and had Sanders in Shotgun with an empty formation. When he felt pressure, Sanders tried rolling out and ended up running about 20 yards backwards before throwing it away for a turnover on downs.
The Panthers’ next offensive drive started off much better for them as QB Bryce Young found the 8th overall pick in the draft, WR Tetairoa McMillan, for 29 yards up the right sideline. A few plays later, on a 3rd-and-5, Cleveland jumped offsides on the edge, giving Carolina a fresh set of downs. Carolina continued chipping their way forward via the air, setting up a 1st-and-goal at the 8 yard line. On 3rd-and-goal, Young did a good job escaping from the pocket and directing his receiver back to the inside before throwing him a touchdown pass to put the Panthers up 7-0.
Sanders went three-and-out on his next drive again, sending Bojorquez out for a second time. He skied it, and the Panthers tried to make a fair catch — but traffic got in the way, leading to a muff and Cleveland LB Nathaniel Watson recovering at the Panthers’ 10 yard line with 36 seconds remaining in the quarter.
The first down handoff went to RB Ahmani Marshall, who made 3 yards out of nothing. They ran out the clock from there.
Beginning with a 2nd-and-goal from the 7 yard line, Sanders lined up under center and ran a playaction fake to his left before throwing a nice touchdown pass to WR Kaden Davis in the back left corner to tie the game...
