After the Cleveland Browns handed the San Francisco 49ers their first loss of the season, many wondered whether the AFC team had revealed a blueprint for beating the Super Bowl favorite.
If you ask head coach Kyle Shanahan, though, he would say that it was more the Browns doing what they usually do and doing it well. He didn't believe they deviated significantly from their typical scheme to stymie the 49ers offense.
"The Browns ran their scheme," Shanahan told reporters before Wednesday's practice. "They did their scheme, just very well. They played tight man coverage, they pressured. When they didn't, they still got there with four (defenders) and had a free linebacker playing eyes with man, or they played a few soft zones just to mix it up."
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has consistently demonstrated a knack for stopping Shanahan-run offenses. Sunday's game was no exception. Cleveland boasts the NFL's top-ranked defense and perhaps the best unit the 49ers offense will face this season.
"But that's what they do," Shanahan continued. "They just did it very well. So most teams got to do their scheme well, and the same with us."
The 49ers are gearing up to rebound on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings. San Francisco is currently favored by 6.5 points in the Week 7 showdown.
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