Eric Edholm NFL writer Updated Mon, November 9, 2026 at 12:44 AM UTC About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this story Tyler Shough hit Juwan Johnson for an overtime touchdown pass, and New Orleans' defense barely held on late in a 23-22 victory over the Shedeur Sanders-led Cleveland Browns.
Sanders, starting for an injured Deshaun Watson, led the Browns to a touchdown on the ensuing overtime drive, with Harold Fannin Jr. breaking multiple tackles on the 39-yard catch-and-run. The Browns went for the 2-point conversion and the win, but Sanders' pass fell incomplete.
The Saints move to 3-5. The Browns have lost two straight and are now 5-4.
Shough completed 21-of-35 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 51 yards. Sanders, making his first start since last season, threw for 297 yards — the second-highest total of his career — and two TDs on 19-of-31 passing. He also had a career-high 10 rush attempts for 28 yards. Both quarterbacks were sacked five times apiece.
The Saints, coming off their bye, moved the ball early but had trouble finishing drives. The game was tied, 3-3, after an ugly first half, and it was 6-6 at the end of the third quarter. The biggest play of the first half was the Saints' Kaden Elliss stoning Browns running back Quinshon Judkins on fourth-and-goal from New Orleans' 1-yard line after Sanders appeared to turn the wrong direction on the handoff.
Kicker Charlie Smyth, who was 3-for-4 on field-goal tries Sunday, gave the Saints a 9-6 lead with just over five minutes left in the game.
On the next play from scrimmage, Sanders hit KC Concepcion for a 64-yard touchdown pass. The ball was slightly underthrown, but Concepcion — who left the game briefly before the big play with injury — waited for it and did the rest after the catch.
Earlier, Sanders hit Denzel Boston on another underthrown deep ball.
After punting on fourth-and-3 on their prior possession, the Saints got the ball back and took a 16-13 lead with 58 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter as Audric Estime plunged in for New Orleans' first touchdown of the game.
The Saints had been 0-for-3 in TD attempts in the red zone prior to that, losing a fumble and kicking two field goals. The fumble came on rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson's first NFL catch in his debut game , losing the ball at the Cleveland 1-yard line.
The Saints also missed a field goal in the first quarter and lost a fumble when rookie Barion Brown coughed the ball up trying to do too much on a punt return.
Sanders led the Browns on a game-tying drive at the end of regulation, with kicker Andre Szmyt hitting a 51-yard field goal, his seventh straight make from 50-plus yards.
In overtime, Shough and Sanders made big throws. But Shough was just a hair better, and the Saints' defense got the big stop it needed on the 2-point try.
Browns tight end has one of the best plays of the season. Shedeur Sanders hit him for a short gain and it looked like the tight end did what he needed to do for an important first down.
Fannin then broke two tackles with big stiff arms and he made it all the way to the end zone for the 39-yard score.
Todd Monken was forced to make a decision. The Browns went for 2, and Sanders had an incomplete pass.
A flag came out, but it was on the offense and the game is over.
Tyler Shough has put the Saints up in overtime.
Shough led New Orleans down the field, taking nearly six minutes off the clock. He found tight end Juwan Johnson for the 15-yard score to force the Browns to score a TD when they get the ball.
With 8 seconds left, Kellen Moore opted to take the game into overtime.
Tyler Shough kneeled the ball and we go to OT tied at 16.
Cleveland only had a minute to work with and it was enough time to get into field goal range.
Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had a 30-yard reception to help extend the drive.
Andre Szmyt lined up for the 51-yard field goal and nailed it, tying the game at 16 with just eight seconds left in regulation.
The Browns are used to putting together fourth-quarter comebacks, but it looks like the Saints may have pulled off one of their own.
New Orleans was trailing 13-9, and Tyler Shough got the Saints down the field. Backup running back Audric Estime scored from two yards out to put the Saints up 16-13 with 58 seconds left. Estime was waived by Cleveland earlier this week.
Earlier in the drive, Shough found Chris Olave for a 33-yard score.
Shedeur Sanders and the Browns will have 58 seconds and two timeouts to score at least a FG.
Shedeur Sanders had just enough time to find KC Concepcion in space.
The rookie wide receiver doubled back and crossed the field, and made it all the way to the end zone for the 64-yard score.
After the extra point, the Browns lead 13-9 with 5:21 left in the game putting the pressure on Tyler Shough and the Saints.
It looked like the Cleveland defense had Tyler Shough for an important sack that could have kept the Saints out of field goal range.
The New Orleans quarterback avoided going down, escaped the defenders and picked up eight on the ground.
This set up a 48-yard field goal that put New Orleans up 9-6 with 5:38 left in the game.
The Browns faced fourth and 7, but the Saints were whistled for being offsides.
After the five-yard gain, on fourth and two from the Saints' 42-yard line, Todd Monken opted to run a play.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders tried to scramble and buy himself time, but he had to just get rid of it.
Cleveland ended up turning the ball over on downs with the game still tied 6-6.
While running a route, rookie wideout KC Concepcion made a cut upfield.
After his route, the wide receiver was limping. He then went down on the field and had to be helped off by trainers. He was taken right into the medical tent.
New Orleans ran 13 plays and picked up 54 yards. The drive was highlighted by Tyler Shough finding Noah Fant for a 12-yard gain and then the quarterback keeping it himself for a gain of 11.
The drive stalled in the redzone, but the Saints still connected on a 27-yard field goal to tie the game at 6 with 2:26 left in the third quarter.
The Browns had an explosive play from Denzel Boston, but were unable to capitalize. Quionshon Judkins lost two on a run, then Sanders was sacked for a seven-yard loss.
After an incompletion, Cleveland decided not to risk it and took the points with a 30-yard field goal.
Browns rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston reached over the Saints defender and caught an impressive pass. He then took off down the sideline, before the defender spun him around at the 3-yard line.
Facing third and six, Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders took off.
He picked up 11 yards, plenty needed for a first down to keep Cleveland's first drive of the second half alive.
The Browns got down to the goal line and were facing a decision. Do they take the field goal and likely 3 points or try for the TD.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders looked awkward handing the ball off, but Quinshon Judkins got the carry.
Judkins couldn't punch it into the end zone and the Browns had a turnover on downs.
The Browns looked like they were going to have to settle for a punt after not being able to do anything after recovering Jordyn Tyson's fumble.
The Saints returner Barion Brown, who had that massive 52-yard reception earlier, tried to get fancy with his return and was trying to find a lane to get up field. He ended up fumbling and Cleveland recovered it, taking over in the red zone.
Saints rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson was making his NFL debut after being drafted No. 8 overall in this year's draft.
He made his first career reception in the second quarter and tried to dive for extra yardage. While he dove, the ball got dislodged, and it was ruled a fumble on the field.
New Orleans got into the red zone after a massive play by Barion Brown who came down with a 52-yard reception.
The Browns ran nine plays and picked up 35 yards on their most recent drive. Once they got past the 30-yard line, though, the drive stalled after three straight runs picked up just eight yards.
Cleveland made the 41-yard field goal, though, and now the game is tied 3-3 with 10:30 left in the first half.
After the Browns punted for the second time, New Orleans got into field goal range, but the offense stalled.
Tyler Shough was again sacked on third down, and the loss of nine set up a 52-yard field goal attempt for Smyth.
The New Orleans kicker missed wide right, but the Saints are still up 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
New Orleans was getting down the field, thanks to an 18-yard rush by Audric Estime and a 19-yard pass to Juwan Johnson.
The Saints got into the redzone, but lost three yards, then gained 10 thanks to two penalties on the Browns. Alvin Kamara then fumbled, but got it back and Tyler Shough was sacked on third down.
Charlie Smyth kicked through the 30-yard field goal.
Shedeur Sanders got the start for the Browns against the Saints as Deshaun Watson was inactive for the game.
Sanders scrambled on first down and picked up three. After a Cleveland false start, the second-year quarterback hit KC Concepcion for a gain of five.
The drive ended as Sanders was sacked for a loss of seven on third down and Cleveland was forced to punt.
Source: Sports
