Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is catching heat for his postgame locker-room speech in Las Vegas, where he rattled off praise for nearly every unit — and even delivered a profanity-laced tribute to Myles Garrett — but barely acknowledged rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders after his first NFL start.
Sanders led the team to a 24-10 victory, passing for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the Browns and Sanders became the first Cleveland rookie quarterback to win in their debut since 1995.
But Sanders got just a quick mention from Stefanski as he reeled off highlights from the game.
“How about that road win?” Stefanski said. “We stayed resilient together and we fought together. How about Gage (Lavardain’s) big return on special teams? How about Corey (Bojorquez) pinning those guys deep every single time and doing his job? Offense wasn’t perfect, but how about that big play by (Dylan Sampson) at the end? … Then another rookie making his first start, nice job Shedeur.”
Stefanski then rightly recognized the defense and Garrett for their dominant performance.
“There’s that old saying, save the best for last — how about that (expletive) defense. Holy (expletive) is what I have to say about that. Ten sacks by our defense!” Stefanski said before giving the game ball to Garrett. “I got a guy, he had a cold this week, wasn’t feeling like himself. He got three sacks, which gives him 18 on the season through 11 games. He breaks his own Browns’ record — Myles Garrett.”
Browns Fans Take Notice of Shedeur Sanders’ Mention
The defense deserved every bit of praise, but fans were quick to point out that Stefanski barely acknowledged Sanders’ role and didn’t give the rookie QB a game ball despite his first NFL win as a starter.
“Damn dude, at least pretend to care about your QB for the cameras at the very least,” one fan said.
“Your rookie QB accomplished something the team hasn’t seen in 30 years and wasn’t given props for it. Idgaf if you’re a Shedeur or (
Dillon Gabriel) guy. That deserves recognition and a game ball,” another fan said.
“Man if this doesn’t tell you what he thinks of Sanders I don’t know what will,” a fan added. “Literal two seconds of shine and not even a game ball on a win in his first start. That’s wild.”
The move from Stefanski also drew the ire of former NFLers Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe.
“Of course, he doesn’t get no game ball. That wasn’t his pick. They don’t want him to succeed,” Johnson said on
Nightcap. “The head coach’s guy is Dillon Gabriel.”
“Shedeur played his (expletive) off,” Sharpe added. “I thought he was very good with his eyes and very good with his feet. Everything was attached. And that’s all you got for the man?”
Browns Don’t Name Shedeur Sanders Starting QB
The Browns suddenly have a real decision to make at quarterback. Dillon Gabriel is expected to be cleared from his concussion soon, and the team has indicated he’d reclaim the starting job once he returns.
After Sunday’s win, Stefanski did not want to get into the starting quarterback conversation.
“I’m not going to get into that. Obviously proud of him and proud of this offense. … But I’m just going to worry about today,” Stefanski said. “I’m always going to take my time and do what’s best for the football team.”
The Browns were 1-5 with Gabriel as the starter. He did very little to establish himself and failed to make an impact. Cleveland will host the San Francisco 49ers next week.
ESPN Exclusive: A Controversial Night for the Cleveland Browns—Pete Carroll Dismisses Win, Kevin Stefanski Fires Back
Cleveland, OH — In a night filled with drama, the Cleveland Browns’ 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders took an unexpected twist off the field. While the Browns secured the win, the real fireworks came from
Pete Carroll, whose comments during the broadcast ignited an instant firestorm.
As the Browns celebrated their hard-fought victory, Carroll, a seasoned coach and veteran analyst, didn’t hold back. With his voice steady but forceful, he began his tirade, challenging not only the Browns’ performance but the very essence of their win.
“Let’s get something straight — that victory wasn’t earned. It was gifted,” Carroll boldly stated, setting the tone for the rest of his critique. But he didn’t stop there. He doubled down, making the claim that Cleveland’s win was nothing more than a product of fortune, not skill.
“You don’t beat a team like the Raiders with execution or discipline — you beat them with luck,” Carroll said. His remarks didn’t just suggest an element of luck but pushed a narrative that the Browns had a good portion of good fortune on their side. He then escalated the criticism, throwing the officiating under the microscope.
“Tell me how Las Vegas — a team that controlled long stretches — walks out of that stadium with a loss? They played real football tonight. Cleveland played with fortune on their side,”
Carroll continued. He reserved his sharpest words for the referees, claiming, “The officiating was embarrassing. The favoritism toward Cleveland was blatant — and the whole country saw it.”
Carroll’s harsh take immediately resonated on social media, quickly trending as fans and analysts debated whether he was justified in his assessment or just a bitter critic. For Browns fans,
Carroll’s words stung, but they were also a catalyst for a war of words to follow.
Minutes later, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski took the stage to address the media and the growing controversy surrounding the game. But Stefanski wasn’t interested in offering a prolonged defense. Instead, he responded with a chillingly calm retort that put an end to the speculation: “The scoreboard doesn’t lie.”
That simple but profound response left little room for debate. Stefanski, known for his measured and focused approach, stood firm in his defense of his team’s victory, saying in effect that the result spoke for itself. The Browns had earned the win, regardless of what others might say about luck or officiating.
But the fallout from Carroll’s comments wasn’t just limited to Cleveland. Raiders head coach Dan Quinn echoed Carroll’s frustrations, acknowledging that while his team played hard, there were moments when things simply didn’t go their way. However, Quinn also expressed confidence that his team would regroup and bounce back, knowing they could control their own destiny without relying on outside factors.
The questions surrounding the game’s officiating, however, are likely to linger. While Stefanski’s 11 words may have silenced the critics in the moment, the controversy surrounding the Raiders’ perceived misfortunes will be a topic of discussion for days to come.
As the NFL playoff race heats up, both teams will be looking to shake off the noise and focus on what’s next. For the Browns, their path is clear — continue winning and making their case in the AFC, while Raiders fans will undoubtedly keep a watchful eye on how this controversial win continues to affect Cleveland’s reputation in the eyes of critics and fans alike.
But as Pete Carroll’s fiery comments proved, in the NFL, a win doesn’t always come without scrutiny. And for the Browns, the scrutiny has only just begun.
