The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in a classic, low-scoring AFC North football game. The 13-6 result will force the Steelers to play in a winner-takes-all game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18, and will move the Browns out of the top five in the 2026 Draft, with one game left. The game also gives Browns’ rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders bragging rights over Pittsburgh.
The reason that’s relevant is that Sanders and the Steelers were closely connected throughout the pre-draft process. Heading into the 2025 Draft, many people were so convinced the rookie quarterback would land in Pittsburgh that Adam Schefter made note of the team passing on Sanders, while announcing the Steelers’ selection of Derrick Harmon. Of course, Pittsburgh would pass on him two more times before the Browns ultimately selected Sanders in the fifth round.
Now, in the rookie quarterback’s first start against Pittsburgh, he helped hand the franchise a costly loss. Regardless of whether anyone is willing to admit it, there has to be some fear that this could be the first chapter of some lifelong regret for the Steelers.
Shedeur Sanders’ draft decision could come back to haunt the Pittsburgh Steelers
Sanders didn’t play a lights-out game against Pittsburgh on Sunday, and it’s not even clear if Cleveland sees him as the long-term answer at quarterback yet. However, he played a game that helped his team win, and also had some moments where he looked like a quarterback who could develop into a player who would make the Steelers regret not drafting him.
The Browns' rookie completed 17-of-23 passes (74%) for 186 passing yards, the only touchdown of the game, and two interceptions, while also adding 20 yards on the ground. One of his interceptions came on a play where a quick pressure led to a deflected ball, which led to a turnover that wasn’t really Sanders’ fault, but it balanced out as the Steelers dropped another pass that should have been intercepted.
The other interception came when the rookie threw an ill-advised jump ball to Jerry Jeudy, where Sanders admitted he was just trying to give his guy a chance, forcing a pass he shouldn’t have thrown.
Aside from those two throws, the rookie quarterback had a game that should have Browns fans excited and Steelers fans nervous about the future. Sanders was especially surgical in the first half, completing 12-of-17 passes for 164 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Once it was clear the Steelers’ offense couldn’t do anything against the Browns' defense, Cleveland played a much more conservative game offensively in the second half.
Now, Sanders has the chance to grow into a really good quarterback in Cleveland, and the Steelers will have a front row seat if that development takes place. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh still doesn’t have an answer at quarterback, didn’t improve its record from last season, and could be forced to constantly face a decision the franchise may regret.