Cleveland Browns QB Grades Following Pitiful Preseason Loss to the Buffalo Bills

The Cleveland Browns may have trouble deciding upon a starting quarterback after Saturday's dud against the Buffalo Bills.

Aug 22, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scrambles during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mother Nature did its best to prevent the Cleveland Browns from playing on Saturday. Yet the skies eventually cleared after a lightning delay and the game was on against the Buffalo Bills in front of a sparse but vocal crowd.

The offense, led by Shedeur Sanders in the first half, even had an opening-drive touchdown to open things up. Unfortunately, everything went downhill fast after that initial drive.

So how did the quarterbacks play throughout all four quarters?

Shedeur Sanders Grade: B

Sanders actually held his own in the first half. He finished 9/11 for 76 yards and had a touchdown pass. The concern was his interception that bounced off the hands of Jermaine Terry and into the arms of Damar Hamlin.

Damar Hamlin snags it out of the air for the INT on Shedeur Sanders 👀

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The footage will be analyzed ad nauseam by Sanders fans, as the ball was possibly tipped by a defender at the line of scrimmage. The pass was ultimately behind Terry, who should still arguably have made the catch. A better throw would have erased all doubts.

He finished the half with a whimper, but still put up solid numbers given he was playing with backups. He did not seize the job, but he did not hand it to Watson either.

Deshaun Watson Grade: D

Watson came in during the third quarter and was playing alongside individuals who will likely soon be cut by the team. The rationale behind that decision by Todd Monken remains a confusing one.

One would think a quarterback of Watson's perceived caliber would find a way to avoid mistakes and run a stable offense. That was far from the case as he went a dreadful 5/12 for 36 yards and an interception that he sailed over the head of his intended receiver.

Te'Cory Couch with the INT!

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The fans were booing him loudly and it was overall a very ugly scene. What doesn't make sense is how he goes fromt his performance to being named the Week 1 starter. Monken may have to give Watson the start on Thursday just to see if he can bounce back.

Dillon Gabriel: Incomplete

Dillon Gabriel entered the game late and went a total of 0/1. He obviously has no chance of being the Week 1 starter, but it's still possible he wins the backup job if the front office decides to move on from either Watson or Sanders.

That may seem unlikely, but anything is possible given what fans have seen from the quarterbacks so far this summer.