Overview
- The Buffalo Bills defeated the Cleveland Browns 31-7 on Saturday after the teams held joint practices earlier in the week, and Buffalo largely rested its top players for the game.
- Shedeur Sanders started for the Browns and finished the first half 9-of-11 for 74 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Deshaun Watson completed 5-of-12 for 35 yards and threw an interception in a poor third-quarter stint.
- Browns coach Todd Monken has not announced his Week 1 starter and said a decision is imminent, with Saturday’s performance complicating the choice because Sanders looked competent and Watson struggled.
- Rams rookie Ty Simpson’s breakout preseason outing (21-of-25, 190 yards, 2 TDs) has forced Sean McVay to reconsider the backup quarterback plan, showing how strong reserve play can alter depth charts.
- The Broncos’ 33-13 preseason loss highlighted execution problems on penalties and offensive-line depth, underscoring a wider Week 2 pattern where coaches balance limiting starter reps with using live snaps to sort backups before final cuts.