Shedeur Sanders has officially been named the starting quarterback against the 49ers, even with Dillon Gabriel cleared to return, Kevin Stefanski confirmed Monday.
The decision sharpened the Cleveland Browns’ vs. 49ers spotlight and fueled questions about how Shedeur Sanders will navigate San Francisco’s aggressive defense.
As the discussion grew, Cam Newton delivered a clear, strategic breakdown of what Sanders must do to keep Cleveland competitive, shifting the narrative from pressure to practicality. Newton evaluated Sanders’ current form, highlighting his decision-making, efficiency, and ability to create high-impact plays inside the structure of the offense.
His analysis centered on how Shedeur Sanders can manage the game, protect the football, and capitalize on opportunities, factors Newton believes can shape the outcome.
Why the Browns Can Win against 49ers With Shedeur Sanders
Cam Newton offered a detailed breakdown of how he believes the Shedeur Sanders vs. 49ers matchup will unfold, framing the game around Cleveland’s overall structure rather than placing unrealistic pressure on the rookie quarterback.
Newton opened with a confident prediction, stating, “The Cleveland Browns will beat the San Francisco 49ers.” He then clarified why his outlook isn’t centered on Sanders carrying the entire offense, explaining, “It’s not about Shedeur, more so, San Francisco will struggle versus the Cleveland Browns’ defense, which in essence, puts the ball back on Shedeur.”
Newton’s message was clear: Shedeur Sanders doesn’t need to play hero football. Instead, he laid out a controlled blueprint for success, saying, “We’re not expecting you to win us the game. Do your job. Play within yourself, but most of all, protect the football. If you’re able to do that, the Cleveland Browns will win the football game.”
Still, Newton didn’t downplay Shedeur’s upside. He highlighted the rookie’s ability to deliver momentum-shifting moments, noting how the QB recently made “A plays that no one in quarterback in a recent memory, probably Baker Mayfield, made a wow play.” According to Newton, those flashes show Shedeur can capitalize when opportunities appear.
He ended with situational strategy, stressing the importance of field position: “You have good field position. If you win the field position power, we’re going to walk away with points.”
Newton’s overall assessment presents a balanced view, confidence in Cleveland’s defense, practical expectations for Shedeur Sanders, and belief that disciplined execution gives the Browns a real chance to challenge San Francisco.