Some coaching decisions get judged entirely by how they turn out. Go for it and convert, and the coach looks bold. Go for it and fail, and the questions start right away. Todd Monken found himself on the wrong side of that line Sunday, but he made it clear he would not change his approach.
Monken explained his decision to go for 2 in overtime after the 23-22 loss to the Saints.
“Just didn’t finish with one last play. Proud of our guys. We’ve got a special group of guys…In that moment, I said, ‘that’s not me. So, we’re going to go for the win right here and it’s going to be win or lose,” Monken said.
"Just didn't finish with one last play. Proud of our guys. We've got a special group of guys…In that moment, I said, 'that's not me. So, we're going to go for the win right here and it's going to be win or lose.'"#Browns head coach Todd Monken on the 23-22 OT loss to the… pic.twitter.com/d79KA5mb5o
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) November 8, 2026
The situation was simple. The Saints scored a touchdown on the opening possession of overtime, and Shedeur Sanders answered with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr. with 1 minute left. Under the league’s overtime rules, Cleveland could kick the extra point to tie the game at 23 and keep playing, or go for 2 and end it right there.
Monken chose to end it. The attempt failed, and the Saints walked off with the win.
His explanation tells you a lot about how he views this team. Monken did not want to settle for a tie and hope for another chance. He wanted the ball in his offense’s hands with the game on the line, and he trusted his players to make 1 more play.
There is a case for that decision. Sanders had just led 3 scoring drives in the final minutes, and the offense finally had momentum after a slow 1st half. The defense, meanwhile, had allowed a go-ahead touchdown late in regulation and another on the opening drive of overtime. Monken may have felt his best chance was right then.
There is also a case against it. A kick would have extended the game, and a tie would still have been better than a loss in the standings. Browns fans will debate the call all week.
What stands out is that Monken owned it. He did not blame the play call or the execution. He said the team did not finish and that he was proud of the group anyway.
That message should land well in the locker room. Players tend to respond to a coach who shows confidence in them, even when it does not work out. Monken has built this team’s identity around close games, and every win this season came down to the final minutes.
The Browns fall to 5-4 and return home to face the Houston Texans next Sunday. They also have Tuesday’s trade deadline to get through first.
NEXT: Todd Monken Shares His Honest Thoughts On Shedeur Sanders’ Performance
