CLEVELAND — It was supposed to be a “Victory Monday.” It felt like it should have been a Victory Monday. But instead, the city of Cleveland woke up to a “Meltdown Monday” of epic proportions. The emotions swirling around the Cleveland Browns organization right now are a complex cocktail of euphoria and rage—a paradox that only this franchise could manufacture.

On one hand, the impossible has happened. The endless, decades-long search through a graveyard of jerseys and failed draft picks is finally over. The Cleveland Browns have found their Franchise Quarterback. On the other hand, the fanbase is ready to storm the gates of Berea because the Head Coach, Kevin Stefanski, seems determined to overthink his way out of a job.

The Savior Has Arrived

Let’s start with the news that should be dominating the headlines: Shedeur Sanders is the real deal. In a season that has felt like a slow-motion car crash, Sanders has emerged as the solitary beacon of hope. Against the Tennessee Titans, Sanders didn’t just play well; he played a game for the history books.

Sanders finished the day 23 of 42 for a staggering 364 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He added another score on the ground—a gritty seven-yard run where he willed his way into the end zone. He became the first Browns quarterback since the legendary Otto Graham in 1950 to record 300+ passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown in the same game.

He outplayed Cam Ward, the number one overall pick. He looked poised, decisive, and electric. He directed traffic like a ten-year veteran, sliding in the pocket, keeping his eyes downfield, and hitting receivers in stride. His connection with fellow rookie Harold Fannin Jr., who caught a crucial touchdown on a play they had missed just a week prior, showed a level of week-to-week development that Browns fans aren’t used to seeing.

“The search is over,” said Dave Grenjinsky, host of the Browns Latest podcast. “It’s like that old Survivor song… the search is over. We don’t need to cross the Mendoza line. We have found our guy.”

Sanders has proven that his draft slide to the 5th round was a massive oversight by the rest of the league. He has firmly completely eclipsed Dillon Gabriel, the team’s 3rd round pick, whose selection now looks like a baffling waste of resources. If Sanders had been given the keys to the offense from Week 1—if he had received the starter reps and the coaching focus that was poured into Gabriel—one has to wonder if the Browns would be preparing for a playoff run rather than playing for pride.

The Coach Who Can’t “Read the Room”

However, a historic quarterback performance wasn’t enough to overcome what many are calling coaching malpractice. The loss to the Titans has ignited a firestorm of criticism centered squarely on Kevin Stefanski.

The primary grievance? A lack of “game feel.”

Late in the game, after a heroic drive by Sanders cut the lead to eight points, Stefanski opted to go for a two-point conversion rather than kicking the extra point to make it a one-score game. The attempt failed. The momentum died.

“You have to feel the game,” Grenjinsky argued passionately. “When Shedeur got us within eight, you kick the extra point. You play for the tie first. If you get the ball back and have them on their heels, maybe then you consider the win. But you don’t chase points that early.”

Stefanski’s explanation in the post-game press conference only fueled the fire. He cited practice reps: “We talked about it on Monday… we practice it all week, so we just do it.”

This rigid adherence to a script, regardless of the flow of the game, is what drives fans and analysts insane. It’s the difference between a coach who manages a spreadsheet and a coach who manages a football game. The decision to run a scripted play—a convoluted double-reverse pitch that lost yards—rather than trusting the hot hand of his quarterback was baffling. Sanders and Fannin were “cooking,” yet the ball was taken out of their hands for a trick play that fooled no one.

“It’s like going with the hot hand in baseball,” the criticism continued. “Terry Francona knew when to pull a pitcher. Stefanski doesn’t know when to ditch the script. He just does what’s on the paper.”

The “Wildcat” Obsession

Adding insult to injury is the continued use of the “Wildcat” formation. In an era where offenses are becoming more streamlined and quarterback-centric, the Browns continue to take their best player—Shedeur Sanders—off the field in critical moments to snap the ball directly to a running back or receiver.

It worked once weeks ago, and now, it seems, it must remain in the playbook forever. Opposing defenses aren’t surprised; they are delighted. Every time Sanders lines up wide and a non-quarterback takes the snap, the collective groan from Cleveland can be heard from space. It stalls drives, it kills rhythm, and it signals a lack of trust in the very player who is single-handedly keeping the offense afloat.

Special Teams and Statistical Nightmares

The coaching failures weren’t limited to the offense. The special teams unit, led by Bubba Ventrone, had a disastrous outing. A blocked punt—something local analyst Lance Reisland predicted days before the game simply by watching film—changed the complexion of the game early on.

“Lance told us on Thursday that the Titans were going to block a punt,” Grenjinsky noted. “He’s a high school coach breaking down film, and he saw it. How did the NFL coaches in the building, getting paid millions, not see it coming?”

These unforced errors are the hallmark of a poorly coached team. When you combine blocked punts with failed two-point conversions and rigid play-calling, you waste the kind of quarterback play that franchises dream of.

Looking Ahead: The Bears and The Future

Despite the “Meltdown,” there is a strange sense of optimism heading into next week. The Browns travel to Chicago to face the Bears and Caleb Williams, the previous year’s number one overall pick.

It’s a marquee matchup: The highly touted Williams vs. the steal of the draft, Sanders. It’s a chance for Shedeur to prove once again that he belongs in the elite conversation. The Bears are coming off a tough loss to Green Bay, and their defense will test Sanders in the wintry conditions of Soldier Field.

The Browns will likely be without defensive tackle Malik Collins, whose absence against the Titans was glaring as Tennessee ran the ball at will. Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz will need to conjure up a game plan to stop the Bears’ rushing attack without his anchor in the middle.

But for the first time in years, the focus isn’t on who will be the quarterback next year. We know. The focus is now on whether the organization is smart enough to build around him properly—and whether they have the right head coach to lead him.

The jury is out on Stefanski. The “Fire Stefanski” chants are growing louder, fueled by Hall of Famers and fans alike who are tired of seeing talent wasted by stubbornness. But the jury has returned its verdict on Shedeur Sanders: Guilty of being a superstar.

The search is over. Now, the real work begins.