Should Shedeur Sanders Be QB1 in 2026? NFL Fans Sound Off After Browns Beat Bengals

Shedeur Sanders led the Cleveland Browns to a 20-18 season-finale road win over AFC North rival Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

After Cincinnati scored a late touchdown to take a one-point lead, Sanders and the Browns marched down the field in 1:29 and set up a game-winning field goal.

Both teams entered the matchup eliminated from playoff contention. Cleveland improved to 5-12 with the win and finished last in the AFC North, while Cincinnati fell to 6-11.

Sanders threw for 111 yards while completing 11-of-22 passes. All of Cleveland's points came via field goals and defensive scores, with Devin Bush and Sam Webb finding the end zone.

Defensively, Myles Garrett broke the single-season sack record, recording his 23rd sack with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Garrett surpassed the mark of 22.5 set by Michael Strahan in 2001 and later matched by T.J. Watt in 2021.

Burrow finished the season with 236 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception while completing 29-of-39 passes. He connected with Tee Higgins, Chase Brown and Ja'Marr Chase for scores.

Fans debated whether Sanders should be the Browns' option at QB1 in 2026 following his rookie-season performance.

Sanders took over for an injured Dillon Gabriel in Cleveland's Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a 23-16 defeat. 

He made his first start in Week 12 and led the Cleveland Browns to their third win of the season with a 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, throwing for 209 yards while completing 55 percent of his passes with one touchdown and one interception.

The rookie experienced an up-and-down inaugural season, but his best performance came in a 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Sanders outdueled fellow 2025 draft prospect Cam Ward, throwing for 364 yards and three touchdowns with one interception on 55 percent passing. Ward finished with 117 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while completing 50 percent of his passes.

▶️ Full Browns-Bengals Recap

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With Sanders' rookie season complete and Cleveland finishing 5-12, the Browns now turn their attention to the offseason. Sanders' future with the team will be determined alongside Gabriel and former starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, who remains sidelined with an Achilles injury.