The Cleveland Browns suffered a decisive 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, dropping their season record to 3-9. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown in the defeat.

Not a spectacular day by any measure, but then we’re dealing with a fifth-round NFL Draft pick from the University of Colorado. Not a first-rounder, as was expected prior to the draft.

Still, it seems clear we can go ahead and pump the brakes on that whole ‘Shedeur is the most powerful player in sports’ hype that ESPN was peddling after he won his debut start, thanks exclusively to the defense.

The 49ers dominated the game from start to finish. Postgame, a reporter questioned Sanders about head coach Kevin Stefanski’s aggressive decisions on two failed fourth-and-1 plays in the Browns’ own territory.

As if punting in those situations would have given them a better chance in a game they lost by three scores.

Shedeur Sanders blasts reporter

Now, say what you might about Sanders’ on-field performance. But his response – having his coach’s back – is a rare display of Shedeur not thinking exclusively about himself.

“Those two fourth and 1s that didn’t work, did you like Stefanski having the aggressiveness there, even if your own territory?” the reporter wondered.

Sanders immediately pushed back on the reporter, calling the question “rude.”

“I mean, first, that’s a rude question to ask if I think if it was a great call by my coach,” Sanders replied.

“I like being out there playing. So, whatever that comes with it comes with. We’re not going to be here and ever point no finger at no coach or do anything like that,” he added. “That’s extremely disrespectful. That’s not even in my place.”

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Mom’s got his back

It’s not Shedeur Sanders’ place to criticize his coach’s play-calling. So he finally got something right in not being selfish. Besides, that’s his Mom’s territory.

Pilar Sanders strongly defended her son by calling out the Browns’ coaching staff on social media in the middle of his very first NFL appearance. Pilar was super-mad that Shedeur, who spent the majority of the season as the fourth-string quarterback, didn’t get any reps with the first team.

“Do your thang! Work with what you’ve got!” she wrote on Instagram. “NFL DEBUT! Never any first round reps – Never heard of 😂🤣 this is wild to say the least.”

Sanders then proceeded to complete just 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception. He also managed to fumble the ball.

Shedeur would bounce back the following week, notching a 24-10 road victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, primarily due to the defense’s 10 sacks.

Following the win, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins delivered one of the dumbest takes you’ll hear all season.

“Shedeur Sanders is the most powerful Black man since 2009,” Perkins said. “You know what happened in 2009? That’s when President Obama got elected in office. He’s the most powerful Black man since 2009.”

After this weekend’s performance, he looked more like Kamala Harris.