The Cleveland Browns didn’t just win—they announced themselves. On a chilly Sunday afternoon in Paradise, Nevada, the Browns crushed the Las Vegas Raiders 24-10 at Allegiant Stadium, turning a matchup of two basement-dwelling teams into a statement game. The win, sealed at 4:05 p.m. EST on November 23, 2025, wasn’t pretty by traditional standards—but it was brutal in execution. And it all started with a rookie quarterback nobody expected to start.
Shedeur Sanders’ First Start, No Fear
Shedeur Sanders, the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year who threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in college, made his first NFL start under center for the Browns. No fanfare. No hype tour. Just a quiet confidence. His first drive? Nine plays, 72 yards, ending in a 12-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper. The crowd in Las Vegas, already restless after a 33-16 loss to Dallas the week before, fell silent. By halftime, Sanders had completed 14 of 20 passes for 161 yards—no interceptions, no panic. Tommy Rees, the Browns’ offensive coordinator, said afterward: "Expectations? We try to limit those. It’s more about, ‘Hey, we’re going to pour this whole week into making sure that you feel comfortable and confident.’" And it showed. Sanders didn’t try to do too much. He checked down. He moved the chains. He trusted his line—even though Cam Robinson was questionable with an ankle injury, and the Browns’ offensive line had been shredded in three straight road games.Myles Garrett: A One-Man Defense
But the real story? Myles Garrett. Entering the game with 15 sacks—10 of them in the last three weeks—he added two more Sunday night. That’s 17 on the season. Just like Reggie White in 1986 and Mark Gastineau in 1984, Garrett became only the third player since sacks became official to hit that mark through 11 games. Denzel Ward, Cleveland’s All-Pro cornerback, watched from the sideline and grinned. "He be putting up Madden numbers now," Ward said. "You can’t say enough things about Myles, but yeah, we just got to get some wins, though." The Raiders’ offense? They didn’t stand a chance. Patrick Graham, Las Vegas’s defensive coordinator, had warned his team: "All young quarterbacks think that’s the move... but the monsters are back there." He meant Garrett. And the rest of the Browns’ front seven. Sanders never had time to see them coming.
Why the Raiders Crumbled Again
Las Vegas came in with a reputation for aggression. After their Monday night loss to Dallas, head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly defended their pass-heavy approach—32 passes, just three runs in the first half against Dallas. But against Cleveland? It backfired. The Browns’ defense, long criticized for inconsistency, turned into a wall. Five drives. Five three-and-outs. Two turnovers. One field goal. The Raiders’ only scoring came from a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 10-yard touchdown pass in the fourth. Their offense crossed the 50-yard line only twice after halftime. The game’s final drive? A sack-fumble by Garrett that ended any hope of a comeback. "Pressure and penalties define Raiders’ loss," read the headline on Raiders.com. And it was true. Three penalties in the first half alone wiped out promising drives. One holding call nullified a 45-yard gain. Another false start on third-and-1 killed momentum. It wasn’t just the defense—it was self-inflicted wounds.The Bigger Picture: Playoffs? Not a Chance
The win improved the Browns to 3-8 (1-5 on the road). The loss dropped the Raiders to 2-9 (1-5 at home). Both teams now have five games left. Neither has a realistic path to the playoffs. The AFC North is dominated by Baltimore and Cincinnati. The AFC West? Kansas City is on another planet. The Raiders? They’re 10 games behind the Chiefs. The Browns? They’re 9.5 behind the Ravens. Still, this win mattered. For Sanders, it was validation. For Garrett, it was history. For Cleveland fans? It was the first time in months they left a game feeling like their team might actually be building something.
What’s Next?
The Browns head home to face the Cincinnati Bengals next week—another divisional fight. Sanders will start again. The offensive line must hold up. And Garrett? He’ll be chasing 20 sacks. The last player to hit that mark? Aaron Donald in 2018. The Raiders? They’ll need to fix their offense. Fast. They’ve scored 17 or fewer points in six of their last seven games. Their next opponent? The Denver Broncos, who have the league’s 30th-ranked defense. If Las Vegas can’t score on them, the season might as well be over.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Shedeur Sanders perform in his NFL debut?
Shedeur Sanders completed 19 of 27 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions in his first NFL start. He showed poise under pressure, avoided turnovers, and led two scoring drives in the first quarter and fourth quarter. His 12-yard TD pass to Amari Cooper opened the scoring, and he converted three critical third downs to keep drives alive. This performance silenced early doubts about his readiness for the NFL.
Why was Myles Garrett’s performance historic?
Myles Garrett’s two sacks pushed his season total to 17, making him only the third player since 1982—when sacks became an official stat—to reach 17 or more through 11 games. He joins Reggie White (19 in 1986) and Mark Gastineau (17.5 in 1984). Garrett also leads the NFL in sacks by four over the next closest player, and his 10 sacks in the last three games are the most by any player over a three-game span since 1989.
What went wrong for the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense?
The Raiders’ offense was stifled by Cleveland’s pass rush and their own penalties. They committed seven penalties for 68 yards, including critical holding calls that erased big plays. Their 32-pass, 3-run first-half strategy from the previous week backfired—Cleveland’s defense anticipated the pass, blitzed effectively, and forced three three-and-outs. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw two interceptions, and the running game managed just 41 yards on 14 carries.
Did the betting line reflect the game’s outcome?
Yes. The Raiders were 4-point favorites with a 36-point over/under. The final score of 24-10 (34 total points) hit the under, which oddsmakers had favored at -118. The Browns, entering 0-4 against the spread as road underdogs, covered the 4-point line by winning by 14. This was a rare instance where a struggling team covered as an underdog—and it came on the heels of a 3-7 over/under record in their last 10 games against the Raiders.
What does this win mean for the Browns’ future?
For the first time this season, the Browns have momentum. Sanders’ debut proved they have a viable long-term option at quarterback. Myles Garrett’s dominance shows their defense can carry the team. With five games left, they’re no longer just playing for draft position—they’re playing to build confidence for 2026. A win over Cincinnati next week could spark a late-season surge, even if playoff hopes are gone.
Can the Raiders recover this season?
Unlikely. At 2-9, they need to win four of their final five games just to reach .500—and their schedule includes Kansas City, Buffalo, and Los Angeles Chargers. Their offense ranks 31st in yards per drive and 32nd in red zone efficiency. Without a major quarterback change or offensive overhaul, this season is a write-off. The focus now shifts to the 2026 draft, where they’ll likely pick in the top five.