Buffalo Plus: BILLS v BROWNS Preview

Episode Date: December 17, 2025
Guests: Mike Catalana (Host), Jon Doss (Sports Director, News 5 Cleveland)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the upcoming Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns matchup. Host Mike Catalana welcomes Jon Doss, Cleveland sports director and host of "Browns Countdown," for a thorough analysis of the Browns’ current state. The discussion covers rookie QB Shedeur Sanders, the struggles and star-power on Cleveland’s roster (notably Myles Garrett), and the vibe amongst long-suffering Browns fans. Listeners are treated to candid, insider takes on what Buffalo will face in Cleveland and real talk about both organizations’ trajectories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shedeur Sanders Experience in Cleveland

• Duality on Display:
  • "You're going to get the duality of Shedeur Sanders. He's going to make some really cool plays that make you think, wow, this guy really does have a future... And he's going to have moments where you say, man, he is really far away from where this team would need him to be." (Jon Doss, 00:00; 06:05)
• Community Involvement & Persona:
  • Shedeur has quickly become a prominent public figure, engaging with schools and communities before even hitting the practice field. Jon notes the genuine, unpolished energy Shedeur brings to press conferences—distinct from the league's more rehearsed QBs. (04:00)
• Polarization:
  • The city is split on him, similar to the Baker Mayfield era. The “Sanders” brand and his dad’s legacy both factor in, but the real tension stems from three decades of the Browns trying and failing to find a franchise QB. (04:37, 04:59)
• Strengths & Weaknesses:
  • Strengths: Accuracy, improvisation, and making plays on the move.
  • Weaknesses: Slow reads, holding the ball too long, and taking bad sacks—"not uncharacteristic for a rookie," Jon adds. (06:05-07:24)

2. Supporting Cast (or Lack Thereof)

• O-Line Woes & Skill Position Dearth:
  • Once elite, Cleveland's offensive line is now aging, injury-ravaged, and one of the worst in football.
    "They've had nine different starting offensive lines just this season." (Jon Doss, 08:02)
  • "Probably the worst receiving corps in football… Jerry Jeudy... has unequivocally the worst season of his career."
• Bright Spots:
  • Rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. has flashed amid the bleakness at receiver. Promising young backs Dylan Sampson and Quinshon Judkins should shine if/when the offense gets fixed. (08:02)

3. Kevin Stefanski: On the Hot Seat?

• Achievements vs. Reality:
  • Two 11-win seasons and an NFL Coach of the Year honor haven’t shielded Stefanski from skepticism.
  • Post-Deshaun Watson trade, most believe Stefanski gets one more year to dig out, but ugly losses mount the pressure.
    • "Outside of those two years, they've been one of the worst teams in football." (Jon Doss, 09:58)
• Ownership & Accountability:
  • Owner Jimmy Haslam publicly shouldered blame for the Watson trade, suggesting Stefanski gets some leniency. Still, patience is thin as recent losses stack up. (09:58)

4. Team Morale & Effort

• Are They Playing for Stefanski?
  • The Browns looked engaged mid-season, but lately, effort has dipped—"It has not looked like that in the last month of this season so far." (Jon Doss, 11:45)
• Mike's Assessment:
  • Bills fans can expect a Browns squad with some fight, but one that’s clearly undermanned.

5. Defensive Star Power: Myles Garrett & Company

• Garrett’s Dominance:
  • "Myles Garrett is one of one… It would have been easy to foresee a world in which Myles Garrett just rolled into Berea, went through the motions... Instead, he's had a career year." (Jon Doss, 12:46)
  • Garrett’s play has soared due to finally having real help up front, so teams can’t always double/triple him. Recent games have seen staggering sack totals.
  • “Some argue… they're the best front four in football." (13:00)
• Supporting Cast:
  • Alex Wright (emerging after injury), Shelby Harris, Mike Hart, and standout rookie LB Carson Schlesinger.
  • Injuries have impacted key contributors (e.g., Malik Collins out for the year). (14:17)
  • "Defensively, they are set now and potentially set for the next few years. It's everything on the offensive side of the ball that they've got to get figured out.” (16:12, 16:35)

6. The Cleveland Atmosphere & Fanbase

• Stadium Vibes:
  • "The fans here in Cleveland are some of the best... they show up rain or shine or snow… for what has been one of the worst franchises." (Jon Doss, 16:55)
  • The Watson trade and a planned move to Brook Park (not far, but symbolically impactful) have soured fan-team relations. Combined with bad weather and poor play, expect "anywhere between 60 and 80% Bills fans at the game Sunday." (18:14)
• Memorable Quote:
  • “There is something going on with the relationship between this team and this fan base that has never been in question before until now.” (Jon Doss, 17:25)

7. Browns’ Recipe for an Upset

• Defensive Dominance Required:
  • "The defense has to be spectacular. Myles Garrett has to lead the charge... If they can hold Josh Allen and Buffalo under 20 points, maybe get a turnover deep in their own zone... Because you have to be realistic, we're not asking for 30 points out of Shedeur Sanders and the Browns offense against Buffalo. It's not going to happen." (Jon Doss, 20:03)
• Track Record:
  • Browns have slowed elite QBs this year (Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Goff for stretches), but their only real path to victory is an ugly, low-scoring battle. (20:03)
• Mike’s Take:
  • “We'll see if that can work out and get this rivalry between these two cities… They've also played some of the strangest, worst football games you will ever see.” (Mike Catalana, 21:41)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Shedeur Sanders’ Play Style:

  • “He's going to make some really cool plays that are going to make you think, wow, this guy really does have a future as a starter in the NFL. And he's going to have moments where you say, man, he is really far away from where this team would need him to be.” (Jon Doss, 00:00 / 06:05)

• On Supporting Cast:

  • "Even the best need talent around them. And granted, the best of the best, Josh Allen, doesn't need as much talent around him as maybe Shedeur Sanders does..." (Jon Doss, 08:06)

• On Myles Garrett:

  • “It would have been very easy to foresee a world in which Myles Garrett just rolled into Berea, went through the motions… Instead, he has had a career year.” (Jon Doss, 12:46)

• On Browns Fans:

  • "They show up for what has been one of the worst franchises in football history…" (Jon Doss, 16:55)

• On Game Prognosis:

  • "I think these two teams are in different stratospheres right now, especially Buffalo coming off that win. But again, the Browns defense is so good. Who knows?" (Jon Doss, 22:26)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – Introduction: Duality of Shedeur Sanders’ play
• 04:00 – Shedeur’s community involvement and persona
• 06:05 – Sanders’ strengths and rookie weaknesses
• 08:02 – Evaluating Sanders with the (lack of) talent around him
• 09:58 – Kevin Stefanski’s hot seat and fan sentiment
• 11:45 – Recent morale and team effort
• 12:46 – Myles Garrett’s evolution and leadership
• 14:17 – Defensive supporting cast details
• 16:55 – The Cleveland fanbase and stadium environment
• 20:03 – Browns’ only plausible gameplan for an upset

Conclusion

This episode lays bare the brutal realities in Cleveland: Shedeur Sanders has promise but is raw and unsupported, Stefanski teeters between scapegoat and survivor, and the defense—led by a transcendent Myles Garrett—remains the franchise’s lone pillar. With Bills fans likely to outnumber Browns backers in the stadium, Jon Doss provides a sobering but richly detailed path for what Buffalo can expect: a battered but proud defense, hungry for a 20-point-or-less street fight, while the offense and embittered fanbase search for hope in another lost season.

Guest Social:
Jon Doss on Twitter: @JonDoss (22:49)