In a Week 14 loss to the Tennessee Titans, Shedeur Sanders took a major step towards proving he's the franchise quarterback Cleveland Browns fans have been waiting for, just as he declared three weeks ago.
Asked what nearly pulling off a 14-point, fourth quarter comeback against the Tennessee Titans showed, Shedeur Sanders had a simple answer.
"I been this way," he asserted. "This is God showing a lot of people who I am."
Sanders' has been trying to show people in NFL circles who he is, dating back to the pre-daft process. He has always been unapologetically himself, which seemed to rub some people the wrong way. So much that it likely contributed to him sliding to the fifth round of the draft, where he was finally selected by the Cleveland Browns with pick 144 overall.
None of that much matters now. Not the people he may have offended with his so called "brashness." Not how agonizingly long he waited to be selected. Nearly eight months later, he's the starting quarterback for the Browns and is making the most of his opportunity.
That's never been more true than it was on Sunday during Cleveland's 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Despite the result, Sanders was at his best, or at least the best we've seen so far at the NFL level.
Sure, he'd like to complete more than just 54% of his passes, but what he did with the 23 passes he completed was eye popping. The Colorado product sliced and diced the Titans defense for a cool 364 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He added a rushing touchdown to make it four total for the day.
It was easily the most passing yards in a game by a Browns quarterback this year, the first 300-yard passing performance since Jameis Winston threw for exactly 300 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 of last season. And the most passing yards in a game since Winston's 552-yard performance one week prior against the Denver Broncos.
Sanders also became the first rookie this season to throw for 300 yards in a game. That 364-yard mark was the third most by a Browns rookie QB in a single-game (some guy named Baker Mayfield posted two games better in 2018).
It wasn't just the incredible accumulation of yardage he amassed though, either. So many of his throws passed the eye test.
The one-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku just 30 seconds into the second quarter took a perfectly placed pass near the sideline and back corner of the end zone to pull off. His floater to Fannin Jr. in a similar spot of the end zone to nearly pull-off a miraculous comeback effort from down 14, was as majestic a ball you'll ever see in this league.
There were others as well. His 60-yard TD bomb to Jerry Jeudy was an electric play. He dropped another one in a bucket to Fannin Jr. down the sideline late in the third quarter. These were throws the other 2 QBs who started for the Browns this season simply were not making or could not make. Sanders is making them without hesitation.
Chalk it up to that unflappable confidence we talked about.
There's been steady progress made by Sanders over his first three starts. Now, that doesn't mean everything has been perfect either. It rarely ever is for a rookie.
Even Sunday's mastery came with some warts, most notably the ill-advised prayer he chucked down the field late in the third quarter looking to make something happen when the offense had hit a wall.
That error actually sparked a 17-point surge by the Titans as the third quarter turned to the fourth. It also set the stage for Sanders' to show everyone who he really is.
What transpired over the final six or so minutes of regulation was nothing short of special. Sanders orchestrated not one, but two crunch-time touchdown drives – running the first one in himself, then tossing the second one to Fannin – to give Cleveland a chance to tie the game at least.
It was the first time in nearly two years that the Browns appeared to have a quarterback who could make a previous mistake irrelevant. On a day where Cleveland's defense decided to deliver its worst performance of the season, it was also the first time Cleveland had a quarterback who could uplift his team.
It was both refreshing and expected. This is who Sanders is. This is what he does.
Prior to his first start against the Raiders, Sanders declared he's "who they been looking for," they being the Browns organization and Browns fans. If he said it, you can guarantee he believes it. Do you?
What remains of this season is primarily about Sanders having the opportunity to prove just that. If Sunday is any indication he's on his way. No one should be surprised if he pulls it off either. He was always made for this.