Browns vs. Ravens: 3 pressing questions after gutting Week 11 loss

The Cleveland Browns' 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11 was a microcosm of their frustrating 2025 season. Despite a stellar performance from their defense, which once again kept them in a game they had no business winning, the team ultimately fell short, dropping their record to 2-8.

The defense delivered splash plays, including a pick-six, and the unstoppable force that is Myles Garrett continued his assault on the NFL record books. However, as has been the case for much of the season, the offense failed to hold up its end of the bargain.

The exit of quarterback Dillon Gabriel due to a concussion opened the door for rookie Shedeur Sanders' NFL debut, and while the highly-touted fifth-round pick took accountability for his rough performance, the collective offensive struggle points to deeper issues than one player's bad half. With the season spiraling and the team staring down the barrel of another top draft pick, three crucial questions emerge that must be answered in the coming weeks to set the course for the team's future.

1. Why Should Dillon Gabriel Start Again?

Head coach Kevin Stefanski was quick to reaffirm after the game that Dillon Gabriel will return to his starting role once he clears the concussion protocol, a decision that is baffling in the face of the team’s current 2-8 record. It’s true that Shedeur Sanders’s debut was rough, finishing 4-of-16 for 47 yards with an interception and two sacks, but Gabriel has hardly been lighting the world on fire himself, entering the game with one of the league’s lowest QBRs and yards per attempt.

The organization drafted two rookie quarterbacks this past spring, presumably to give them multiple bites at the apple for finding a viable backup, with Sanders viewed by many as having high-level upside. With the playoffs a mathematical impossibility and the team prioritizing its search for a top quarterback in the 2026 draft, the priority should shift from trying to win meaningless games to developmental evaluation.

Sanders should be given a runway to start the remainder of the season. This time would provide invaluable game tape of him operating with and against starting NFL talent. What works for him, what doesn't, and how he reacts to adversity under pressure are all critical pieces of data the team needs before committing to their 2026 draft strategy. Sticking with Gabriel, whose performance has been mediocre, offers marginal returns, whereas starting Sanders provides a clear look at the potential they have already invested in.

2. Is Myles Garrett The Greatest of All Time?

Not yet, but the argument for his trajectory is becoming undeniable.

Myles Garrett's Week 11 performance, featuring four sacks, was another monumental step in what is becoming a historic career. Already a few short weeks removed from passing Reggie White for the most sacks before turning thirty, Garrett has now surpassed Lawrence Taylor’s legendary streak of consecutive seasons with 12 or more sacks. By raising his 2025 total to 15 on Sunday, he now stands alone with six consecutive seasons of 12+ sacks.

Garrett is 24th in career sacks in league history with 117.5, having just flown past Hall of Famer J.J. Watt. And he still has seven games left in the 2025 season. The question is no longer if he will make the Hall of Fame, but how high on the career sack list he will climb. His combination of early-career dominance, durability, and sustained elite production puts him in rarified air. The argument for him being the greatest ever will hinge on continuing this pace for another five to seven seasons, which, given his age and current production, is a very real possibility.

3. What is the Long-Term Future of the Offensive Coaching Staff?

The Browns' defense has played at an elite level all season, consistently keeping the team competitive. However, the offense has remained stagnant, contributing to the team's 2-8 record.

This consistent offensive underperformance, spanning multiple quarterbacks and a full season of an inability to generate scoring drives, squarely puts the spotlight on Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and his offensive staff.

The offense frequently looks predictable, struggling with basic situational football and failing to effectively utilize the play-action and run game that the coach was hired to implement.

Neither Gabriel nor Sanders has looked comfortable or able to operate within the structure of the offense. A great coach tailors the scheme to the talent, and the inability to find a functional system suggests a critical disconnect.

If the offense continues to sputter for the rest of the 2025 season, which appears likely given the current quarterback situation, then the question of Stefanski's future as the primary offensive architect, or even as the head coach, will become unavoidable. With a potential top-five pick looming, the next regime will want to hire a coach who can maximize the talent brought in, and the current staff has failed to demonstrate that ability.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns vs. Ravens: 3 pressing questions after gutting Week 11 loss