Shedeur Sanders didn’t just have a rough game against the Bears. He ran into a wall.
There’s one stat that explains almost everything. According to ESPN Research, Shedeur Sanders was pressured on 20 of his 42 dropbacks. That’s 48% of the time. Nearly half his snaps ended with someone in his face.
Here’s the twist. The Bears came into that game ranked 31st in the NFL in pressure rate, sitting at just 24% on the season. All year, they struggled to get after quarterbacks. Against Shedeur Sanders, they suddenly couldn’t miss.
This wasn’t a one-game fluke either. Shedeur Sanders has been pressured on 46% of his dropbacks this season. If that number holds, it would be the highest pressure rate faced by any quarterback since ESPN started tracking the stat in 2009. The previous high? Deshaun Watson at 43% in 2018.
No qualified QB in over a decade has dealt with more constant pressure than Shedeur Sanders.
Fans’ Reactions to Shedeur Sanders Regarding The Stat
Once the pressure numbers went public, the conversation around Shedeur Sanders shifted fast. A large group of fans pointed straight at protection, saying the stat only confirms what they’ve been watching all season.
One comment summed it up bluntly: “No one wants to talk about this though in the media. Couple that with the fact he’s playing behind the WORST OLine in the NFL what do you expect Shedeur to be able to do exactly?”
Others echoed the same idea, noting instability up front: “Well when you have an offensive line that stays injured, not consistent and only been listening to your cadence for 4 weeks it’s pretty much a no brainer for defensive coordinators.”
Some reactions were emotional, short, and raw. “They was on his neck😭.” That line alone captured how overwhelming the pressure looked in real time.
But not everyone defended Shedeur Sanders. Critics argued the stat exposes flaws rather than excuses. One fan fired back: “Almost like the league knows he can’t read a defense so there’s not much of a threat unless he hits a coin flip deep ball every so often, huh…..”
Another was even harsher: “That’s because they all know he holds on to the ball way way too long looking for the 60-yard bomb every play he sucks.”
The offensive line still stayed central to the debate. “Yes the browns trotted out possibly the worst o line you will see ever. This was no suprise.”
Yet even that came with pushback: “Get rid of the ball. What was his TTT today? Shedeur been making O Linemen look bad for years.”
Some fans tried to balance both sides. “OR… they see an opportunity to disrupt a rookie quarterback who has held the ball long in recent games, break through a patchwork o-line, and control the flow of the game. I thought he played well under the circumstances but they certainly didnt fear him.”
Others looked ahead and didn’t like what they saw coming. “Teams are going to continue to bring pressure on him until he proves he can handle it which has been his biggest flaw since college. Add on top of that the Browns are playing with an entire line of 2nd 3rd and 4th stringers. Going to be an ugly end to the season.”
The final takeaway from fans was simple. Pressure works. “That’s cause with him it works, so it makes sense for teams to do it.” And the fix? “Yea yal need to just go get a WR or two and str8 o lineman.”
For Shedeur Sanders, the stat didn’t end the debate. It poured gasoline on it. Critics will be closely watching him as fans cheer him on.
Also Read: Shedeur Sanders Had a Better Season In 2024 Than 2025 Heisman Winner Fernando Mendoza