The Browns will head to Las Vegas for the second consecutive year and face the Raiders in Week 12. Both teams sit at 2-8 on the season, each looking to add to their win columns.
"Obviously have a ton of respect for Coach (Pete) Carroll and then what they do offensively, defensively, special teams, really a challenge in a bunch of different areas," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Looking at the roster, some really special players. Obviously, Maxx Crosby gets a lot of attention on defense, deservedly-so. Brock Bowers on their offense is outstanding. And then special teams, they got great returners, good core, so it's going to be quite the challenge."
Here are three burning questions heading into Week 12.
How will Shedeur Sanders operate the offense?
While QB Dillon Gabriel remains in concussion protocol, QB Shedeur Sanders will make his first start for the Browns against the Raiders. Sanders played the second half in Week 11 against the Ravens after Gabriel was experiencing symptoms and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Sanders finished the game for Cleveland, completing 4 of 16 passing attempts and throwing one interception.
Sanders was officially announced as the starter on Nov. 19 and had the full week of reps with the first team heading into Week 12. Before his second half game action in Week 11, Sanders last played during the preseason, in which he started the first preseason game against the Panthers and saw playing time during the final preseason game against the Rams.
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said over the course of the week, their goal as an offensive staff centered around creating a game plan in which Sanders feels comfortable in within the system. Within that operation, Sanders and the Browns will face a Raiders' defense that allows an average of 219.5 passing yards per game and 107.3 rushing yards per game.
"You want to make your quarterback comfortable," Rees said. "You want to call plays, you want to put in plays that breathe confidence into them as they hear them, as they call them, plays that they know they can make work. And then you press the guys around them to raise their level of play and play well, to continue to breathe confidence in the young players and in the young quarterbacks."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 12 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) and Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cleats during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
A Gatorade bottles during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) and Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Cornerback Dee Williams (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Cornerback Sam Webb (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Kyle Hoke during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive back D'Angelo Ross (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Coordinator of Team Logistics Wat Adair during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
A Gatorade bottle during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) and Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive back D'Angelo Ross (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Assistant Groundskeeper Shaun Card and Kicker Andre Szmyt (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dale Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Sports Medicine Fellow Nandit Patel during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) and Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Groundskeeper Shaun Card during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Kyle Hoke during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
The scenery during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
The linebackers during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Equipment Intern Sasoun Tcholakian during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Performance Science Fellow Jeremy Portillo during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) and Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
How will the Browns limit DE Maxx Crosby's defensive presence?
The Browns will face another elite pass rusher in Week 12 when they face DE Maxx Crosby, who ranks third in the NFL with 14 tackles for loss. This season, Crosby has recorded 42 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits and six sacks in 10 games. He also has one interception, six passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
Crosby can apply ample pressure to opposing quarterbacks and is disruptive in the run game. He can affect the game in a multitude of ways through his ability to stay on the field, as he has played 609 snaps on defense this season – 91 percent of the Raiders' defensive plays
"Even when he's not getting to the passer, he effects so many passes by getting his hands up, getting in passing lanes," Rees said. "I think he does a nice job of reading the quarterback and when he's not getting a great rush, finding ways to mirror and disrupt the ball. Relentless front side, backside of the run game. Like his motor is tremendous, and he's one of those guys across the league that can really impact games and change games defensively."
How will the Browns contain TE Brock Bowers?
The Browns have to account for multiple threats in the Raiders' offense, including TE Brock Bowers who is particularly impactful in the pass game.
"He might be the best pass receiving tight end in the league right now," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "He runs like a wide receiver. He runs great routes; he has great instincts to set down zones. He's good down the field, so we got our work cut out for us with him."
This season, Bowers has caught 39 receptions for 455 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He averages 5.6 receptions per game this season, and 11.7 yards per reception. Bowers has played in just seven games this season due to injury, but since he returned in Week 9, Bowers has caught 20 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns.
"They do a great job of moving him or putting him in positions to use his change of direction to build in his great hands to make plays," linebackers coach Jason Tarver said. "So, there's times where any of us could be around or near him, and we got to know the leverages, where he is and work. So, it's going to be a team effort to play him. And they do a very good job of how they use him. They're different when he plays in games, as you've seen from stats and everything. As you look through, he's a good player. So, it's going to take us all. And then he's really good when he gets ball in his hands. When we were talking about getting guys to the ground, we got to make sure we get as many humans to the ball because he's good after the catch."
