After a brutal second-half collapse on Sunday evening, the Cleveland Browns are now set to take on the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12 on the road.

However, Sunday’s contest against a struggling franchise presents a fresh start for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who made his debut against the Baltimore Ravens after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion in the first half. In his first-ever game in the NFL, the 2025 fifth-round pick completed a measly four of his 16 attempts for 47 yards and one interception.

While some fans were disappointed in Sanders’ first game, the 23-year-old will now receive a full week of practice as the starting quarterback, with head coach Kevin Stefanski telling reporters on Wednesday that Gabriel is officially out.

Here’s how the Browns could set Sanders up for success in his first-career start.

Establish The Run

In order for an offense to find success on Sunday, the Browns must find a way to generate production on the ground with fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins.

The 2025 second-round pick currently leads all first-year running backs this season with 620 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 157 attempts. Judkins is coming off a rough game against the Baltimore Ravens after being held to 59 yards on 17 carries.

Luckily, the Raiders have allowed an average of 107.3 rushing yards per game this season. Getting Judkins involved early will help relieve pressure off of Sanders in his first start.

Focus On Quick Game

It’s clear that the Browns’ offensive line has underperformed this season, giving up a total of 29 sacks through 10 games. This was made clear with Gabriel at the helm, and it will likely play a factor when facing star pass rusher Maxx Crosby on Sunday.

During Sanders’ debut against the Ravens, the rookie quarterback dealt with heavy pressure in later-down situations, which makes the short game a key piece to the offensive attack against the Raiders. This will also allow for Sanders to quickly get through his progressive and limit the pass rush.

One of the major issues in his debut was his inability to play at the speed of an NFL game, so using short passing concepts would instill confidence in the young playmaker.

Incorporate The Play Action

The play action should be a huge component of Cleveland’s offense with Sanders under center.

There are many reasons why installing play action passes would be benefical for the struggling unit. These play calls force the defense to stay disciplined in the run game, which creates more opportunities on the ground. In addition to helping the rushing attack, play actions get Sanders out of the pocket or give him more time within the pocket.

On multiple occasions against Baltimore, Sanders looked uncomfortable in the pocket. While the Browns’ coaching staff must help him in his efforts to trust his blockers up front in the future, getting Sanders outside the pocket will help boost his confidence.