Browns face tough task Sunday against the undefeated 49ers

Photo via BVM Sports

Sunday, at Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Browns will be facing the undefeated NFC juggernaut, the San Francisco 49ers. This game will look a little different than expected. Reporter Josina Anderson of CBS announced late Thursday evening that Deshaun Watson has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Watson is battling what is believed to be a rotator cuff contusion, and what is feared to be a strain. An injury that he suffered halfway through the third quarter of Week 3’s game against the Titans (reported by browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot).

Enter PJ Walker

The Browns will start third string quarterback PJ Walker. He spent last year with the Carolina Panthers. In Walker’s four starts he compiled a 2-2 record, with 731 yards passing, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Even in the absence of their starting quarterback, the Browns are hoping to advance to a 3-2 record on the season and have a positive record through 6 weeks for the first time since the 2020 NFL season.

Much needed win

A win on Sunday not only would give them a positive record through 6 weeks for the first time in 3 seasons, but it would also tie Cleveland with the division leader Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Browns win on Sunday, it will feel like more than just another addition in the win column—it would feel like a win the team has desperately been searching for over the last couple of seasons.

With everything that has happened so far internally to start the season, a win on Sunday as the clear underdog, against arguably the best team in football, may be the best and most momentum building win at Cleveland Browns Stadium since January 3rd, 2021. That date being when the drought in Cleveland finally ended. The Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at home to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

San Fran – the win machine

Though Cleveland isn’t the only team with something to gain on Sunday. The visiting San Francisco 49ers have a lot to gain from the victory as well. If the Niners win on Sunday, they will have played one full calendar year without a regular season loss. The Niners last regular season loss came against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 23, 2022, in which they got smoked 44-23 at home. After this embarrassing loss, they proceeded to go on a 10-game regular season win streak.

A win on Sunday for the Niners would also have them start the season 6-0. This record being important, since the last time the Niners started the season 6-0, is when they made the Super Bowl in 2019. The key for San Francisco to win this game on Sunday is simple – basically keep doing what they have been doing for the first 6 weeks of the season. However, if the Browns have any chance to win on Sunday, they will have to have a lot of things go their way. It starts with trying to stop the most important players on the most talented team in football.

49ers Offense

First, they will have to find a way to stop the incredible, and shockingly fantastic 7th round quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy, along with offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan, has helped lead the 49ers passing offense to the 7th most passing yards through the first 6 weeks, and 8th most passing yards per game.

If the Browns want to slow down the man in charge, they will have to take his weapons away. That starts with arguably the 49ers best WR, 215lb monster wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Who just two years ago had over 1,700 yards of scrimmage and 14 total touchdowns.

Samuel is a do it all wide receiver. Fans and opponents across the league even consider Samuel to be a running back who plays wide receiver. He is a multi-threat player who has had a great couple of seasons. As has his running mate Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk started off the season strong as well. Pro Football Focus put him as the #1 rated wideout  through the first 6 weeks of the season. Along with topping the Pro football Focus Charts, Aiyuk ranks 13th in the league in receiving yards thus far.

Not only have their top two wideouts been playing incredibly well for them so has one of the league’s best tight ends, George Kittle. The tight end will be fresh off of his 3-touchdown game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

With all that included, you cannot forget about arguably the best player in this offense, and on the team – All Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey is on pace for 28 total touchdowns this year. He’s looking to score a touchdown in 15 straight games on Sunday and is truly the best overall running back in the sport.

The Browns would not only like to destroy McCaffrey’s touchdown streak, but also break the streak of success for all the San Francisco 49ers weapons. However, just taking away their offensive weapons and qb success may not be enough.

San Francisco Defense

The Niners defense so far this season has been just as good as their offense. They’re off to a great start under new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Under his command, the Niners are on top of all the defensive charts.

The defense is giving up the 3rd fewest rushing yards, 7th fewest rushing tds, 12 fewest passing tds, tied first for interceptions with 8 so far, and are giving up an average of just 15 points per game. Leading the defense is reigning DPOY, edge rusher Nick Bosa. Not only is slowing down Bosa a tall task, take two steps off the defensive line where Bosa plays, and meet all-pro linebacker Fred Warner. He is considered by many, the league’s best outside linebacker.

Both Bosa and Warner have started the season off strong. In addition, with the stellar defensive line which includes Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Drake Jackson, and will welcome new edge rusher on Sunday, Randy Gregory. The Niners defensive dominance does not stop there, as a cornerback room, headlined by corner Charvarius Ward, has been a consistently solid unit for the Niners, over the last couple of seasons, and continues this year.

The Niners defense is regarded as the league’s best among many teams and is a unit that is to be feared. Though even in all of this greatness of the Niners, the Browns still have a chance to pull off the upset on Sunday. Cleveland will need a lot of things to do it, starting with some important positions, to step up in a big way.

Cleveland’s Offense

The Browns will first have to ask certain skill positions on the offensive side of the ball to play extremely well, Starting with the play caller, and the man under center, PJ Walker. The backup will have to play better than he has ever had to play in his career. His 59% completion rating and a 25 QBR, which he had with 4 games with the Panthers, will not be enough. If they want to have a chance to win this game, Walker will have to vastly improve in both of these major categories.

Though the team’s success offensively on Sunday does not rest on the shoulders of Walker alone. The hope is the Browns dynamic rushing attack will finally return. After their last couple of weeks, since Nick Chubb’s injury in week 2 versus the Steelers, the Browns have yet to find a running back that can give them consistent play. As running backs Kareem Hunt, Jerome Ford, and Pierre Strong, have yet to show consistency and trust to the team thus far. With Hunt averaging just 2.5 yards per carry, Ford averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, and Strong averaging a solid 5.9 yards per carry, on limited carries.

The group has averaged just 4.0 yards per carry since forming the newly created RB room. This is below the league’s average. If the Browns want a chance to win this game, they will need the rushing attack to return to its previous form. That form was nearly the best rushing attack in football before Nick Chubb went down.

Browns units need to show up

Along with QB and RB, the Browns last and certainly not least, will ask big things out of their RT rookie Dawand Jones. They’ll also need 4th year LT Jedrick Wills, to play a lot better than he has to start the year. Wills has been rated one of the worst offensive linemen so far in the NFL. He is giving up the 3rd highest pressure percentage out of any player in football. With Wills allowing 36.7% of the Browns total pressures.

While the left tackle position of the line has been underperforming, the Browns will continue to ask Jack Conklin’s replacement Dawand Jones, to play at a high level. He filled in nicely for right tackle, Conklin, who suffered a season ending injury to the Bengals in week 1.

The Browns will also be missing LG Joel Bitonio on Sunday. Michael Dunn will fill in for the absent Bitonio. The success of the Browns lies on the backs of these three units. If just one of them doesn’t show up, it could be disaster for the Browns.

Cleveland Defense

The Browns defense will also have to continue their beginning of the year dominance. They have to shake off their disappointing play against the Ravens. The Browns defense, despite their week 4 troubles, are still playing at a league best level.

The defense is allowing the fewest total points through 6 weeks out of any team in the league. As well as the 4th fewest rushing yards per game, the fewest average passing yards per game, and the lowest average total yards per game. Good news, Myles Garrett is expected to play, despite suffering a foot injury against Baltimore. All eleven starters on the defensive side for Cleveland are expected to suit up and be ready to go.

Schwartz and Shanahan

Jim Schwartz would also like to improve to an incredible, and shocking, 9-1 record in his career, versus 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. No matter where Schwartz and Shanahan have been, it is interesting to see the stats alluding to the fact Schwartz has historically played Shanahan very well. Perhaps he could have found a formula to stop Shanahan.

An interesting stat that I found was during the 2016 NFL Season. The season where the Falcons made it to the Super Bowl, and Matt Ryan won MVP. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons that year averaged a staggering 33.9 points per game for the first 9 games.

When they played a Schwartz led Eagles defense in game 10, Atlanta was held to just 15 points. In that 24-15 win, they held Atlanta to the fewest points scored all year. The Falcons never scored fewer than 15, for the rest of the season. The Browns hope to restore the curse that Schwartz has over Shanahan. The only way the Browns have a chance to stop this rolling 49ers team, is if Schwartz and the defense show up to play.

Any Given Sunday

The Browns players, personnel, and coaches will be asked to do something that hasn’t been done, to overcome a team that has yet to be beaten. The Browns’ battle to win on Sunday will be an uphill one but it can be done. Cleveland will have to play better than they have had to start the season if they want to have a shot to take down the best team in the league. All we can do is wait till Sunday’s kickoff and see if the Browns will shock the world. Thus, gaining some much-needed momentum, going into their mini road trip, starting week 7.