Close games have defined the Browns’ season. Every win so far has come down to the final minutes, and Sunday in New Orleans looked like it was headed down the same path. Shedeur Sanders made his first start of the year, the defense kept forcing turnovers and Cleveland battled back twice late. This time, though, the finish went the other way.
The Browns lost 23-22 to the Saints in overtime.
final pic.twitter.com/czR8OUmkAb
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 8, 2026
Fans had plenty of reactions.
“Tytus Howard holds every single play,” a fan said.
“what a game, awful 2 point play. wrist still up tho,” another fan said.
“Watson likely wins that game,” another fan commented.
“Sanders made great plays!!! Go Browns!!!” another fan said.
The game was a field goal battle for 3 quarters. Charlie Smyth and Andre Szmyt traded kicks, and the Saints led 9-6 after Smyth hit from 48 yards with 5:38 left in the 4th quarter.
Sanders answered right away. On the Browns’ next drive, he hit KC Concepcion deep down the right sideline for a 64-yard touchdown that gave Cleveland a 13-9 lead with 5:21 remaining.
The Saints went back in front when former Brown Audric Estime ran in from 2 yards out with 58 seconds left. Estime, whom New Orleans claimed off waivers from Cleveland last month, finished with 72 yards and the go-ahead touchdown against his old team.
Sanders still had time. He moved the offense into range, and Szmyt drilled a 51-yard field goal with 8 seconds left to force overtime.
New Orleans got the ball first in the extra period, and Tyler Shough found Juwan Johnson for a 15-yard touchdown. The Browns answered with 1 minute left when Sanders hit Harold Fannin Jr. for a 39-yard score. Instead of kicking the extra point to extend the game, Cleveland went for 2 and the win. The attempt failed.
Sanders gave the Browns plenty to like in his first start of the season. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 297 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception, good for a 114.6 passer rating. Denzel Boston led the way with 6 catches for 98 yards, including a 60-yard grab, and Concepcion added 85 yards.
Carson Schwesinger was outstanding, finishing with 15 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. Myles Harden also had 2 sacks, and the Saints lost 2 fumbles.
The same problems showed up again, though. The Browns were flagged 10 times for 58 yards, went 0 for 2 in the red zone and failed on both 4th-down tries. Sanders was sacked 5 times. The run defense also allowed 160 yards, bringing the total over the last 3 games to 501.
The loss drops Cleveland to 5-4 heading into Tuesday’s trade deadline. The Browns return home next Sunday to face the Houston Texans, and Deshaun Watson has already cleared the concussion protocol.
That sets up a big question for Todd Monken this week. Sanders gave the Browns a strong argument on Sunday, even in defeat.
NEXT: Shedeur Sanders Blames The Media For This Week’s Drama
