CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns had a lot of problems in Sunday's 26-8 loss to San Francisco.
This is not to anoint Sanders as Cleveland's future franchise quarterback. It is to say the rookie is showing promise.
That's also significant. The Browns need to give Sanders a serious look in the remaining five games.
This wind whipping Sunday with 18-degree wind chills and gusts of over 30 mph was nothing like Sanders' first start in Las Vegas. The Raiders play in an indoor stadium. In that game, the Browns beat the Raiders 24-10. Sanders connected on deep passes to Isaiah Bond (52 yards) and Jerry Jeudy (39 yards).
That Las Vegas game was played in ideal conditions for a quarterback.
This game was played more in weather suited for The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, complete with what Gordon Lightfoot called "the gales of November" in his legendary song.
The Lake Erie winds were roaring. Sitting in the press box, you could barely hear the official when he made an announcement from field level. It was one WHOOSH after another.
That's why it's hard to make any significant judgments about Sanders. Coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees assembled a conservative, run-heavy game plan and Sanders did a good job following it.
This was not a day to play "Air Shedeur."
If the 49ers were throwing a lot of passes downfield, then there would be room for a debate about the game plan. But San Francisco QB Brock Purdy was 16 for 29 passing for 168 yards and a TD. Solid numbers, nothing more.
In the end, Sanders was OK. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards. He was sacked three times. In the fourth quarter when the Browns were behind 17-8, Sanders attempted some long passes with little to show for it.
The Browns special teams had a miserable day. So did the offense in short-yardage situations, twice failing to convert on fourth-and-1 deep in their own territory. Both of those set up San Francisco TDs.
The Browns continually put their defense in lousy situations. When that happens, the defense eventually breaks - which happened Sunday.
Sanders is learning how to take snaps directly under center and work in a structured offense with a lot of short quick passes.
He looked comfortable.
He connected on one long throw - the 34-yard TD strike to Harold Fannin Jr.
Watching this game, I was longing to see the Browns attempt more downfield passes, but also knowing the wind was wild and the 49ers were blitzing often (especially) in the second half.
How did Sanders play? I'm struggling to figure that.
And yes, I'd write the same if Dillon Gabriel had started this game.
This was an awful day to be a quarterback ... any quarterback, especially a rookie.