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Shedeur Sanders was inactive as the Cleveland Browns took on the New England Patriots on Sunday, but he was still at the top of fans’ minds as Dillon Gabriel struggled in his fourth start.
Gabriel finished 21 of 35 with 156 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 32-13 loss to the Patriots. The final straw appears to have been the intentional grounding penalty that Gabriel called in the end zone on one of the team’s final drives, giving the Patriots two extra points.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) passes against the New England Patriots in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Myles Garrett was perhaps the most frustrated Browns player. He set a franchise record for most sacks in a single game with five. But the team didn’t have the victory to prove it.
The Sanders debate began to resurface late in the second half.
Sanders was dealing with a back injury, leading the Browns to deactivate him for the game. Bailey Zappe served as Gabriel’s backup.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, left, and cornerback Dom Jones, right, talk before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
The Browns decided to give Gabriel a few reps as the starting quarterback before the team’s road game against the Minnesota Vikings. He guided the team to a surprising victory over the Miami Dolphins last week, but the wheels seemingly came off the rails against the Patriots.
He entered the game with 546 passing yards and three touchdown passes.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Sanders and Gabriel were in the same draft class. Sanders had an impressive preseason, but an injury disrupted his chances of becoming QB2 behind Joe Flacco. He was moved up on the depth chart after the team traded Flacco and named Gabriel as the starter.
