We are practically in the second half of the NFL season, and the Cleveland Browns are almost completely out of playoff contention unless a miracle happens. This is not a surprise. The season was expected to resemble 2024, especially because since the preseason there has been uncertainty at the quarterback position, a situation that has only gone backwards.
Shedeur surprised Deion during the Browns bye week
This weekend, in Week 10 of the NFL, the Cleveland Browns will visit the New York Jets in a matchup between two teams already thinking about what to do with potential high picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Believe it or not, the Browns are favored by 2.5 points in betting lines, mostly because the Jets dismantled key parts of their roster at the trade deadline.
The New York Jets no longer have their two best defensive players. Sauce Gardner, one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round picks. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was sent to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for multiple selections, including a 2027 first-round pick.
A decisive game for Dillon Gabriel against the New York Jets
There is no doubt that Dillon Gabriel is one of the most questioned quarterbacks right now, and there may be plenty of reason for it. The former Oregon Ducks quarterback has made four starts in the NFL and has shown very little. Perhaps there were some flashes in his first start against the Minnesota Vikings, but that was it.
Since then, his performances have regressed. The Cleveland Browns’ offense simply does not function, and now he has a huge opportunity facing a Jets defense missing its two biggest playmakers: Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. It’s important to note that Gabriel has only thrown for more than 200 yards once in his young career.
Lance Reisland, NFL analyst at 92.3 The Fan, gave his opinion on Gabriel’s opportunity against the Jets and made it clear: “This is a game you should win. It’s a game where Dillon Gabriel has to play well.”
The reality is simple: if Dillon Gabriel does not perform well against these weakened New York Jets, there will be no reason to keep him as the starter. Shedeur Sanders, in the one real opportunity he had during the preseason against the Carolina Panthers, delivered a performance that Gabriel has not come close to matching at any point this season. If Gabriel struggles again, the moment for Shedeur Sanders could arrive very soon.
