Browns Coach Accepts Duty for Missed 2-Level Conversion With out Sanders

CLEVELAND — Browns coach Kevin Stefanski declined to elucidate what went flawed however accepted blame for a failed 2-point conversion try in his workforce’s 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday that noticed rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders watching from the sideline on the decisive play.

Cleveland trailed Tennessee 31-17 with six minutes left, however Sanders rallied the Browns late with a pair of landing drives. Sanders first scored on a 7-yard run however fumbled the middle alternate when Cleveland went for 2 after the landing.

Later, Sanders related with rookie tight finish Harold Fannin Jr. on a 7-yard landing with 1:03 left, however the Browns left Sanders off the sector because the offense went to its Wildcat package deal for an additional 2-point try.

Rookie working again Quinshon Judkins took a direct snap and ran to his proper however mishandled the ball as rookie large receiver Gage Larvadain ran in the wrong way for a potential reverse. Judkins ran backward and launched a move throughout the sector to Larvadain in a last-ditch effort, but it surely fell incomplete.

“Not going to get into all of the specifics however clearly it didn’t go as we thought it could,” Stefanski stated after the sport.

Stefanski handed playcalling duties to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees after Cleveland’s Week 9 bye — he additionally stated Rees had ultimate say on what performs went into the sport plan — however the sixth-year head coach took accountability for the failed conversion. Stefanski stated he had already selected the Wildcat play because the offense was transferring down the sector for the potential tying drive.

“I make each name. … I am chargeable for all of it,” Stefanski stated.

All through the season, the Browns have turned to the Wildcat formation in short-yardage conditions. Judkins has scored 4 touchdowns out of the Wildcat, however he was stuffed earlier within the sport close to the objective line. Two performs later, Sanders threw a 1-yard landing move to tight finish David Njoku early within the second quarter.

“If I am on the market any play, I want I’d at all times have the ball in my hand,” Sanders stated, “however that is not what soccer is. … In any scenario, after all you wish to, however I do know we practiced one thing and we executed it in apply, and we simply did not appear to at the present time. So, I’d by no means go towards sort of what the decision was or something.

“We apply for conditions, we do all the pieces, and in the event that they knew it could pan out like that, I do not suppose they might’ve did it,” Sanders later stated. “I do not suppose in any scenario, if we really feel like one thing’s not going to be as profitable and deliberately name it and simply be stunned if it do not work. I feel that is the entire league, any play you go right into a sport with, you count on success. And if that do not occur, that do not occur.”

Sanders, the 144th choose on this 12 months’s draft, had his finest statistical sport in his third begin. He accomplished 23 of 42 passes for 364 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Sanders additionally ran for 29 yards and a landing on three carries. He turned the primary Browns participant with three passing touchdowns and a speeding TD in a sport since Derek Anderson in Week 6 of the 2007 season.

The loss, although, dropped the Browns to 3-10 and formally eradicated them from playoff rivalry. Cleveland’s possibilities of getting the No. 1 choose within the 2026 NFL draft rose from 6.6% to 14% after the defeat, in accordance with ESPN Analytics.

“He fought all through the sport, which we knew he would,” Stefanski stated of Sanders. “Clearly, with any younger participant there’s going to be ups and downs, and I believed there have been some actually, actually, actually good moments. He’ll continue learning from a number of the performs that he desires again, however some actually good moments.”