Browns vs. Raiders: Week 12 Need to Know

Cleveland QB Shedeur Sanders to make his starting debut, along with everything else you need to know about the game.

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What is the story about?

The Cleveland Browns are in Sin City on Sunday to face the Las Vegas Raiders.

Both teams are in a hot battle with the Tennessee Titans and three other two-win teams for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, so this could be a game where the winner may not be as excited as the loser.

Draft order can wait, however, as the game marks the debut of quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who will get the start after a fierce week of work with the first-team offense. It is a shame that the game is not

being shown nationwide, but Vegas is as good a place as any for a transcendent star like Sanders to introduce himself to the NFL.

It is the Browns vs. the Raiders in the late-afternoon window from Las Vegas, and here is everything to know about the game.

Game Info

Records: Cleveland is 2-8. Las Vegas is 2-8.

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m.

Stadium: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

TV: CBS

Announcers: Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker, and Tiffany Blackmon (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 Jerod Cherry (sidelines)

Last meeting: The Raiders won the last meeting, 20-16, in Week 4 of the 2024 season.

First meeting: The Raiders won the first meeting, 23-20, on November 8, 1970.

All-time series: The Raiders lead the all-time series, 18-10. The Browns have lost four of their last five road games against the Raiders.

Weather: Allegiant Stadium is enclosed, so no weather issues.

Uniform: The Browns will be sporting a never-before-seen, and possibly regrettable, combo of their white throwback helmet, paired with their standard white jersey and orange pants.

Injury report: Browns – Out: Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (concussion). Questionable: Right tackle Jack Conklin (knee), wide receiver Jamari Thrash (foot), and defensive end Alex Wright (quad). Raiders – No reported injuries.

The line: Browns +3.5, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

News and Notes

The last Cleveland rookie quarterback to win his debut game was Eric Zeier in 1995.
Since 2000, 28 quarterbacks selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft have taken a snap in a regular-season game. Only Mark Brunell of the Jacksonville Jaguars would go on to be a starter, according to The Athletic.
The Raiders offensive line allowed four sacks and 16 pressures last week against the Dallas Cowboys.
Las Vegas quarterback Geno Smith is one of two quarterbacks, along with J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings, with more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (12) this season.
Smith is 29th in passer rating and 31st in QBR, ahead of just the once-again benched Justin Fields of the New York Jets, according to ESPN.
The Browns have intercepted a pass in four consecutive games.
Las Vegas defensive end Maxx Crosby is third in the league with 14 tackles for loss.
The Browns have not won a road game since defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 of the 2024 season.
Cleveland has not won a game in the Pacific Time Zone since 2012.

In Case You Missed It

A Final Quote

Guard Joel Bitonio, who will be blocking for the 21st different Cleveland starting quarterback on Sunday, on what the Browns hope to see from Shedeur Sanders:

“His mental work this week has been prepping hard. He’s been doing some extra walkthroughs and getting an understanding, and he wants to perform well, we want to perform well for him, but I think he’s going to have a better grasp of what we’re trying to do on offense, and hopefully that translates to some good drives, some sustained drives, some points scored. That’s kind of what we’re looking for.”

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