Browns vs. Saints: Week 9 Need to Know

(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Browns close out their three-game road trip on Sunday when they face the New Orleans Saints. What would have been an otherwise humdrum game has taken on a new level of something between excitement and dread with the news that the B

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What is the story about?

The Cleveland Browns close out their three-game road trip on Sunday when they face the New Orleans Saints.

What would have been an otherwise humdrum game has taken on a new level of something between excitement and dread with the news that the Browns will start Shedeur Sanders at quarterback.

Sanders will get his first start of the season thanks to Deshaun Watson still being in the league-mandated concussion protocol. And not to put too much pressure on Sanders, but the Browns are in the heat of a playoff

race while the Saints are simply trying to get out of their own way each week as they bumble through the season.

It’s the Browns vs. the Saints from New Orleans, and here is everything to know about the game.

Game Info

Records: Cleveland is 5-3. New Orleans is 2-5.

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Stadium: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.

TV: CBS

Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Logan Ryan, and A.J. Ross (sideline reporter)

Radio: 850 ESPN Cleveland, 92.3 The Fan WKRK, 98.5 WNCX, 1300 AM La Mega (Español)

Announcers: Andrew Siciliano, Nathan Zegura, and Je’Rod Cherry (sidelines)

Last meeting: The Saints won the last meeting, 35-14, in Week 11 of the 2024 season.

First meeting: The Browns won the first meeting, 42-7, on October 1, 1967.

All-time series: Cleveland leads the all-time series, 13-7. Eight of those 13 wins by the Browns have come in New Orleans.

Weather: The game will be played indoors, so weather is not a concern.

Uniform: The Browns will wear their white jersey with their horrible brown pants.

Injury report: Browns – Out: Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (elbow). Questionable: Quarterback Deshaun Watson (concussion). Saints – Out: Running back CJ Donaldson (shoulder, concussion). Questionable: Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (ankle), cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (shin), offensive tackle Asim Richards (thumb), and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring

The line: Browns +3 points, with an over/under of 42.5 points, per FanDuel.

News & Notes

The Saints rank No. 28 in rushing, averaging 86 yards per game.
Cleveland’s defense ranks No. 23 against the run, allowing 126.9 rushing yards per game.
The Browns rank No. 24 in rushing, averaging 97.6 yards per game.
New Orleans’ defense ranks No. 29 against the run, allowing 139.4 rushing yards per game.
New Orleans wide receiver Chris Olave has more receptions (49) and receiving yards (636) than the rest of the Saints wide receivers combined, according to ESPN Research.
The Saints have only scored on one offensive drive in the first quarter this season.
Cleveland’s defense has allowed a score on the first offensive drive in seven of their eight games.
The Browns lead the NFL in pre-snap penalties (35) and total penalties (85).
Cleveland quarterback Shedeur Sanders made seven starts as a rookie, posting a total QBR of 19, which ranks No. 691 out of 696 quarterbacks with at least 200 pass attempts since 2006, according to ESPN.
During those starts, Sanders averaged 3.24 seconds to throw, the slowest among 38 quarterbacks who made at least six starts in 2025.
The Browns have gone 83 consecutive drives without scoring a touchdown on a series where the quarterback has been sacked, according to The Athletic.

A Final Quote

Cleveland offensive coordinator Todd Monken on what he saw from quarterback Shedeur Sanders this week in practice:

“I liked his confidence, like the way he operated; he looked very comfortable in terms of getting our guys in and out of the huddle. Getting to the line of scrimmage was going to be half the battle this week, obviously, going there. I thought he threw the ball, you know, extremely well.

“I do think there are positives to the amount of reps he got during the fall. I think obviously there was a two-month gap there, but I think there was enough there in terms of our system, how we do things. He’s been on every trip; he’s been on the headset during games. He hears every call that we make. So, if a player is diligent like he’s been, then you expect there to be some carryover.”

What are you looking for from the Browns in Sunday’s game against the Saints?