September 24, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and safety Grant Delpit (22) and linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) celebrate after sacking Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (not pictured) during the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers should beat the Browns. They should probably beat the Browns by a lot. San Francisco has a better roster, a better coaching staff, and they’re healthier. Cleveland is also without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. All signs point to a 49ers win.
Unfortunately, this is the NFL and weird things happen. A Browns upset is on the table, even if the odds are in the 49ers’ favor.
San Francisco should go to Cleveland and win, but here are some reasons to worry about Sunday:
The Browns need speed
The Browns’ defense has been the talk of the town all year, and it’s easy to write off all defensive lines as the 49ers demolished the Cowboys and star quarterback Micah Parsons in Week 5.
However, this Cleveland team is a different animal. Edge rushers Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith form a formidable duo that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz can deploy across the line in a way that creates confusion on the offensive front. This duo should spend a lot of time destroying the unproven right side of the 49ers offensive line.
If they can affect Brock Purdy without being explosive, it could lead to some of the mistakes he’s been able to avoid so far this season.
Browns DC Jim Schwartz
There aren’t many defensive coaches who have Kyle Shanahan’s number. Schwartz seems to be though. When the two met as coordinators (or head coaches), Schwartz outscored Shanahan 7-1. Even Shanahan’s vaunted 2016 Falcons offense managed just 15 points on 11 first downs and 2-11 third downs. That was even when Shanahan faced the Browns against DC.
This 49ers group presents different challenges to the defense, and this combination of weapons can be impossible to adequately defend, but historically, Schwartz’s defense gives Shanahan problems that other defenses don’t.
Brown secondary
We probably could have lumped a lot of this together in “Browns’ Defense,” but this unit is good enough that highlighting their individual aspects is worth it. The Cleveland pass rusher joins a very talented secondary that features star safety Grant Delpit, who is ranked third overall and second overall by Pro Football Focus. He is a flashy player who can cover the offense both upfield and down the field. Putting a player with traits behind a dominant pass rusher is a recipe for disaster for QBs.
Browns cornerback group – Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II and Martin Emerson Jr. – yielded two touchdowns on seven carries. They’re not the best CB group in the NFL, but they’re very good, and they’re even more effective with a great passing game. When Purdy makes a mistake, they take advantage. satisfaction
This is not an indictment of the 49ers. It is human nature. The 49ers are better than the Browns, and Cleveland has the most important spot on the field. PJ Walker is the likely starter for the Browns and has thrown five touchdowns and 11 interceptions in seven career games.
A good example of this was in Week 9 of the 2021 season, when the 49ers faced Cardinals QB Colt McCoy to start. San Francisco beat the Bruins comfortably, but the next week they faced Arizona’s pioneer backup QB.
If the 49ers believe they can throw the jerseys on the field and grab a Week 6 win, they could quickly face an uphill battle against an inferior opponent.
Weather!
Weather could affect Sunday’s game in Cleveland. According to Weather.com, the high will be 55 degrees, with winds up to 18 mph and rain possible during the game.
A game where the rushing attack is a big factor usually plays into the hands of the 49ers. They have a very good defense and one of the best running games in the NFL. Unfortunately, playing one-dimensional against a Browns team that might have the best defense in the league doesn’t do it any favors.
Bad weather can lead to an ugly slugfest where one mistake can put the game away, and this is the kind of game where mischief happens.
