5 winners (and 4 losers) from Browns' ugly preseason debut vs. Bears

Cleveland Browns football is officially back! Saturday's preseason opener against the Chicago Bears marked the dawn of a new era in Northeast Ohio, even though the woes from the past continue to haunt this organization.

Box-score watchers might jump to big conclusions after this one, both good and bad. The tape and the context, however, might not tell the same story upon further review.

Considering that, let's talk winners and losers from this ugly 34-10 setback at Soldier Field.

These Browns stood out (for better or worse) in the preseason opener

Winner: Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson's numbers will look way better than the tape, but he effectively moved the chains on half of his drives and was out there for the team's only touchdown drive. His sloppy feet under pressure show his woes from the past might still be a lingering issue, though.

Watson's performance was a mixed bag. He would have completed his first 10 pass attempts if it hadn't been for a rare drop by Harold Fannin Jr. Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards and a 98.2 passer rating. But he looked progressively worse as the Browns kept digging into the offensive line depth, including losing a fumble on a fourth-and-2 dropback in the second quarter.

This performance didn't settle the quarterback competition by any means, and the offense stalled during Watson's two-minute drive at the end of the half. Still, he looked much better than the other Browns signal-callers, so there's that.

Loser: Shedeur Sanders

At first, Shedeur Sanders looked much better and more comfortable in the pocket. He made good decisions, avoided some negative yardage, and even connected on a 30-plus-yard bomb to Luke Floriea on third-and-long facing an all-out blitz.

The Browns probably would have scored on Sanders' first drive if Ahmani Marshall hadn't been stuffed deep into the Bears' territory on fourth-and-short. It all went downhill from there. Sanders had two passes batted before sailing one for an easy interception.

Sanders had to play behind a makeshift offensive line and without the team's starting pass catchers, so we can't make a definitive assessment right now. While the mechanics were better, his rookie mistakes were again on full display.

Sanders' day was over with six completions on 11 attempts for 79 yards, one pick, and a 39.6 passer rating. He also scrambled twice for a gain of 3 yards.

Winner: Spencer Fano

Spencer Fano didn't make any splash plays or record a single highlight on his preseason debut, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If anything, not being a part of the conversation is often positive for rookie left tackles.

He makes the cut as a winner because of all the reps he got. He was out there for five full drives before Dawand Jones replaced him in the second quarter. He's the undisputed starter right now.

Loser: Austin Barber

Likewise, Austin Barber got a longer leash in this one. He looks like the front-runner to be the team's swing tackle, and he played with both the second- and third-team offense. Unfortunately for him, he was beat badly on a sack that ultimately led to Watson's lost fumble.

To add insult to injury, Barber had to be helped off the field with an apparent ankle injury. He was ultimately able to shake it off and return for the second half, so it might not be anything serious.

Winner: KC Concepcion

KC Concepcion is the real deal. He made play after play, starting with a 31-yard punt return to put his speed and twitchiness on full display. He had a couple of nice grabs and scored the team's only touchdown on an end-around in the first half.

All in all, the No. 24 overall pick secured three receptions on four targets for 27 yards, had one carry for 14 yards and a score, and also made an impact on special teams. Monken moved him all over the formation and the rookie delivered.

Loser: Chris Edmonds

Chris Edmonds had been making some noise in training camp, showcasing impressive ball-hawking instincts to bolster his roster chances. Unfortunately, he couldn't carry that momentum into the preseason opener.

Edmonds gambled and lost on a Maurice Alexander crosser. He misjudged his route, leading to an easy 25-yard Bears touchdown. Edmonds did lead the team with six tackles, but those are the types of plays that get you cut, and it wasn't his only missed tackle on the day.

Winner: Dylan Sampson

Quinshon Judkins started the game with three carries, but he couldn't find much ground behind the Browns' rusty new-look offensive line. Dylan Sampson did much better when he replaced him, showing why his explosiveness and steady hands make him such an intriguing player.

Sampson hauled in two receptions on as many targets for 43 yards, and he had the team's longest offensive play of the day. He should have a bigger role in Year 2, as he looks like a big play waiting to happen on every touch.

Loser: Dillon Gabriel

We've heard reports of how Dillon Gabriel had been surging in training camp and how he had earned the right to enter the quarterback competition. That certainly didn't seem to be the case in this game, even if he was playing with fringe roster candidates.

Gabriel sailed a throw for an interception, gave up on a play and took a sack for a 9-yard loss as soon as he faced pressure, and he looked as erratic and out of place as he did as a rookie.

Gabriel completed 5 of 8 passes for 23 yards and took two ugly sacks. He didn't do himself any favors as a potential trade candidate, either.

Winner: Michael Coats Jr.

Michael Coats Jr. was everywhere in the first half. He had a big pass breakup on third down to force a failed field goal attempt, and earned some praise with a great read to pick off Tyson Bagent with a diving interception.

On a negative note, he couldn't finish the game with an ankle injury, though the team didn't report the severity. The undrafted free agent has made big plays throughout training camp, and his strong play should only improve his chances of making the roster if he's healthy.

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