CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – No one has been able to slow up, let alone stop the San Francisco 49ers this season.
The Battered and bruised Cleveland Browns stand in the way of a 6-0 start for the star-studded visitors from the west coast.
On Paper, the 49ers have the advantage in all three phases of the game. To win, Cleveland will need takeaways as well as at least one defensive or special teams score.
Here’s what, and who we are watching for Sunday afternoon at 1.
Not having Deshaun Watson is a big problem for the Browns who will also be without All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio. P.J. Walker is up from the practice squad after joining the team in September to start. Short, quick passes to receivers Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones and company seem to be the order of the day. Can Walker do just enough to give the Browns a chance against an attacking 49ers defense that is allowing less than 14 points per game?
There are two key matchups to watch Sunday – 49ers All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams vs. Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett and reigning defensive player of the year Nick Bosa vs. rookie right tackle Dawand Jones. Williams is the best in the business protecting Brock Purdy’s blind side while Garrett is tied with T.J. Watt as the second fastest player in NFL history to reach 80 career sacks. Bosa has 1.5 sacks to date after leading the NFL with 18.5 in 2022 but he gets to the quarterback often and has delivered 14 QB hits in five games. The last time these two teams played Bosa had a pair of sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
Since Week 2 and the loss of Nick Chubb, the Browns run game has stalled. Jerome Ford is averaging 3.7 yards per carry in what is now become a run by committee approach that has seen five or six players outside of Watson be called upon the run the ball in games. The offensive line is not at full strength but a strong run game will be required if the Browns are to have any shot against San Francisco.
Cleveland’s defense is off to a strong start, but boy will they have their hands full Sunday afternoon. Like the 49ers, the Browns are pretty stingy on the scoreboard allowing 15 points per game, less than 200 yards per game, including 25 yards passing and just under 72 yards rushing per contest.
Brock Purdy is 10-0 in the regular season and the 49ers have won 15 consecutive regular season games. Purdy threw a career-high four touchdowns last week in a blowout of Dallas. He has the highest passer rating (121.1) and the second-highest completion percentage (70.4) by a quarterback in his first 10 career starts ever, and he leads the NFL with a 123.1 rating in 2023 without throwing an interception. Receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk have combined for 41 catches for 680 yards and three touchdowns. Samuel also has 84 yards rushing and a score as well.
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has scored a touchdown in 14 consecutive games, including the postseason, which is tied for the fourth-longest such streak in NFL history. He leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (678), rush yards (510) and is tied for first in scrimmage TDs (8). McCaffery has scored three rushing TDs in two games against the Browns.
Tight end George Kittle, who is averaging under 13 yards per catch this season, caught a career-high three touchdowns last week to give him 34 career receiving TDs.
Last week – 49ers beat the Cowboys 42-10, Browns had a bye
The last time – October 7, 2019: 49ers 31, Browns 3
Series – Browns lead 12-8
By the numbers – A look at how the two teams match up statistically.
49ers offense vs. Browns defense:
Scoring: 49ers 33.4, Browns 15.0
Total yards: 49ers 402.6, Browns 196.8
Passing: 49ers 246.2, Browns 125.0
Rushing: 49ers 156.4, Browns 71.8
49ers defense vs. Browns offense:
Scoring: 49ers 13.6, Browns 19.0
Total yards: 49ers 266.8, Browns 316.3
Passing: 49ers 202.6, Browns 172.5
Rushing: 49ers 64.2, Browns 143.8
Defensive stats
Sacks: 49ers 13.0, Browns 12.0
Takeaways: 49ers 9, Browns 3
Turnover differential: 49ers +7, Browns -7
Projected Browns starters – Offense: WR Amari Cooper, LT Jedrick Wills Jr., LG Michael Dunn, C Ethan Pocic, RG Wyatt Teller, RT Dawand Jones, TE David Njoku, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, QB P.J. Walker, RB Jerome Ford, WR Elijah Moore
Defense: DE Myles Garrett, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Za’Darius Smith, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Anthony Walker, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome II, CB Martin Emerson Jr., SS Grant Delpit, FS Juan Thornhill
Injury report – OUT: QB Deshaun Watson (right shoulder), LG Joel Bitonio (knee), WR Cedric Tillman (hip); QUESTIONABLE: TE David Njoku (face, hand), C Ethan Pocic (knee, chest, foot); EXPECTED TO PLAY: DE Myles Garrett (foot), RB Jerome Ford (knee)
Uniforms – White alternate helmet, white 1946 jersey, white pants
Broadcast info – Radio: 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX; TV: WJW TV-8 (FOX)
Kickoff –1:03 p.m. Cleveland Browns Stadium; Cleveland, Ohio
Prediction – 49ers 33, Browns 16
Our 2023 record – 2-2
