LAS VEGAS — Shedeur Sanders didn’t just win a football game on Sunday; he exorcised a ghost that has haunted the Cleveland Browns franchise for nearly three-quarters of a century.

Thrust into the starting lineup with the season on the line, the rookie quarterback led Cleveland to a decisive 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. In doing so, Sanders achieved a feat that no Browns quarterback has accomplished since 1950: he won his NFL debut. The victory snapped a notorious, heartbreaking 17-game losing streak for quarterbacks making their first start for the franchise, a curse that has chewed up and spit out decades of hopefuls.

But despite the history, the 200-plus passing yards, and the spark that finally electrified a dormant Cleveland offense, the post-game narrative wasn’t about celebration. It was about the icy reception from his own head coach.

The Performance: “I’m Who They’ve Been Looking For”

With only one week of first-team reps under his belt, Sanders looked every bit the “franchise savior” the Dawg Pound has been praying for. While his stat line included one interception, his resilience was the story of the day. Sanders displayed the signature poise and ability to extend plays that made him a college superstar, throwing for over 200 yards and a touchdown.

His first score—a perfectly timed screen pass that went 66 yards—settled the team, and his ability to escape the pocket kept the Raiders’ defense off balance all afternoon. Feeding off the energy of a defense that racked up 10 sacks (including three from Myles Garrett), Sanders managed the game with a swagger that has been missing in Cleveland.

“I’m who they’ve been looking for,” Sanders told reporters after the game, radiating the unshakeable confidence inherited from his father, Deion Sanders. “A lot of people want to see me fail, and that ain’t going to happen.”

The Conflict: Stefanski’s Cold Shoulder

Yet, the joyous mood in the locker room seemed to hit a wall when it reached the podium of Head Coach Kevin Stefanski. When pressed by reporters on whether Sanders had earned the starting job over Dylan Gabriel moving forward, Stefanski deflected, refusing to enthusiastically praise the rookie’s historic effort.

“I’m not going to get into that,” Stefanski said curtly regarding the permanent starting role. “I’m just going to worry about today.”

The coach’s hesitation to commit to the hot hand—and his refusal to explicitly shower Sanders with the typical praise reserved for a winning quarterback—has sparked immediate controversy. Critics argue that Stefanski appears determined to hand the reins back to Dylan Gabriel once he is healthy, regardless of Sanders’ performance.

The Backlash: “That Ain’t Happening”

The coach’s tepid reaction sparked immediate backlash from NFL legends and pundits. On their hit show Nightcap, Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson unloaded on the Browns’ leadership, accusing Stefanski of harboring a bias against the rookie.

“The man wasn’t flipping him no football,” Ochocinco argued, referring to the lack of a game ball for Sanders. “That is not the individual that they want at the helm. They made that clear a long time ago… them actually wanting to give him credit after a game? That ain’t happening.”

Sharpe agreed, emphasizing that Sanders had done enough to earn the job for the rest of the season. “This team played with more energy, more excitement, and more purpose than they have all season long,” Sharpe noted. “You know what Dylan Gabriel is… now go find out what you have in Shedeur Sanders.”

The Verdict

The Cleveland Browns finally have a quarterback who can win on day one. They have a rookie who walked into a hostile environment, broke a 75-year curse, and energized the entire roster. But as the team heads back to Cleveland, the battle isn’t against an opposing defense; it’s against the internal politics of the coaching staff.

Shedeur Sanders claims he is the answer. The stats back him up. Now, the football world waits to see if his coach will finally let him lead, or if the Browns will revert to their old ways and bench the only spark they have found in years.