Shedeur Sanders had a challenging night on Saturday, as the Colorado Buffaloes suffered a tough 28-10 loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The Huskers took control early, building a commanding 28-0 lead by halftime and holding on in the second half to secure a significant win in the early stages of the Matt Rhule era as Nebraska’s head coach.
Sanders, the Buffaloes’ star quarterback, faced relentless pressure throughout the game. The Nebraska defense sacked him six times, making it nearly impossible for Sanders to get comfortable in the pocket. With little time to throw, the Colorado offense struggled to find its rhythm. On top of that, Nebraska’s defense shut down the Buffaloes’ running game, forcing Colorado to rely heavily on their quarterback, who was constantly under duress.
After the game, when asked about Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola’s performance, Sanders didn’t shy away from addressing what he believed was the key difference between the two teams. Rather than focusing on his own struggles, he made a pointed comment about the protection, or lack thereof, from his offensive line.
“How many times did Raiola get touched?” Sanders asked reporters, clearly frustrated by the lack of protection he received compared to Nebraska’s quarterback.
RELATED: Shedeur Sanders Harassed by Nebraska Fans During Tense Walk to Locker Room
Sanders’ comment, while factual, didn’t sit well with some fans and critics, as it seemed to shift the blame squarely onto his offensive line. The Buffaloes’ pass protection had indeed been an issue throughout the night, but Sanders’ decision to publicly call attention to it raised eyebrows. For a quarterback, often viewed as the leader of the team, these kinds of remarks can be seen as throwing his teammates under the bus rather than shouldering the responsibility together.
Fans took to social media to voice their opinions on Sanders’ post-game comments. Some were quick to criticize his leadership.
“What an AWFUL teammate. Leaving before the game is over and now this. What pro team would want this attitude in the locker room?” one fan commented, referencing earlier frustrations with Sanders’ behavior.
“Tuning in to hate-watch Colorado every week has become a small joy in my life. So I thank Deion and Shedeur for giving me that time,” added another fan, taking pleasure in Colorado’s struggles.
“Shedeur Sanders wouldn’t know what leadership was if it punched him in the face,” another fan remarked, adding to the chorus of disapproval over Sanders’ reaction.
At the postgame press conference, Shedeur Sanders wasn’t the only one to address the offensive line struggles. His father, head coach Deion Sanders, echoed similar sentiments but with a more measured approach.
“Protections were a problem,” Deion Sanders admitted. “You know, I’m trying to be polite and say it, because you know I can say the same thing you’re thinking, but if I say it, you’d say I’m throwing my guys under the bus. I’m not doing that whatsoever. Protections were a problem. We gotta figure out a way to prevent that and do a better job with that.”
Deion’s comments reflected the same frustration with the offensive line but struck a balance between acknowledging the issue and maintaining support for the players. His more diplomatic approach contrasted with Shedeur’s bluntness, highlighting the complexities of leadership on and off the field.
For the Buffaloes, who finished the 2023 season with a disappointing 4-8 record, the offensive line will need significant improvement if they hope to make strides in 2024. The game against Nebraska exposed a glaring weakness in their protection, one that opposing teams will likely exploit throughout the season if left unaddressed.
While Shedeur Sanders’ frustrations are understandable given the pressure he was under, leadership is often judged not only by performance but also by how players handle adversity and speak about their teammates. As the quarterback, Sanders will need to balance his competitive drive with the understanding that publicly calling out teammates can be detrimental to team chemistry.
Moving forward, both the offensive line and Sanders will need to step up if Colorado hopes to turn things around. But for now, Sanders’ postgame comments have sparked debate about what type of leadership the Buffaloes need as they navigate another challenging season.
