Podcast: 49ers & NFC West Free Agency Updates →
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports


49ers vs. Browns: Five Keys to Victory and Score Prediction

Matt Andruscavage
Oct 6, 2019 at 2:45 PM


The Bye Week is over, and the San Francisco 49ers are atop the NFC with a 3-0 record. While virtually no one is giving the 49ers credit for this turnaround, it is important to take this one game at a time. Like Coach Kyle Shanahan stated, "I've been 5-0 and missed the playoffs." There is still a lot of season left.

Up next are the Cleveland Browns tomorrow night on Monday Night Football. The Browns are 2-2 and are garnering more respect at this point than the 49ers. While San Francisco will have a great opportunity to improve to 4-0, this will not be an easy game. Here are five keys to winning this game and perhaps turning a few heads in the process:

Where and When: Monday, October 7 at 5:15 PST at Levi's Stadium

Where to Watch: How to watch or listen to Browns at 49ers

1) Ensure Nick Chubb Does Not Take Over This Game


Nick Chubb is the fourth leading rusher in the league this year with 398 yards, a 5.1 yards-per-carry average, and four touchdowns. He seems to be getting better each week, and limiting him will be paramount.

If the 49ers can force the Browns to pass, it will go a long way in giving the defense a chance to get to Baker Mayfield and give the ball back to the offense.

2) Take Care of the Football


Week 3 against the Steelers was an extremely frustrating game that saw the 49ers commit five turnovers, including three in the red zone.

The Browns have a better offense than the Steelers and if given a short field, rest assured, will put up more than a couple of field goals.

San Francisco will need a balanced attack but, most importantly, zero turnovers.

3) Win in the Trenches


It's no secret that the Browns do not possess the greatest of offensive lines, but the burden of proof is on the 49ers to execute and create a lot of pressure up front.

They must hit Mayfield and get off the field, while hopefully racking up a couple of turnovers and sacks along the way.

On the other side, the 49ers' offensive line will need to protect Jimmy Garoppolo. The matchup that is getting the most attention is Justin Skule against Myles Garrett. We will find out a little more about the progress of the rookie and how he fared against an elite pass rusher.

If Garoppolo can stay clean, the passing attack should have a great chance to break out.

4) Limit the Penalties


While the penalty situation has not been as dire as it was after Week 1, it still rears its ugly head. The 49ers cannot afford to have big plays taken away by bonehead penalties.

The other issue is field position. The 49er offense works best when it wins on first and second down. Getting stuck in a first or second and long can, many times, be a drive killer and can back them up into poor field position.

San Francisco may not score every time it has the ball, but they can't afford to let Cleveland start at midfield due to a penalty (or even a sack) that forces a punt from deep inside its own territory.

5) Splash Plays


This is a statement game and will require "splash plays" on both sides of the ball early and late in the game.

While the 49ers have the ability to grind out a tight game, they will make things much easier for themselves with big plays from the offense and a turnover from the defense.

Prediction


The 49ers know they aren't getting any respect and that they need to make a statement. They have gotten rest and are relatively healthy.

The offense will control the football, and the pass rush will make life very uncomfortable for Baker Mayfield, taking the pressure off the secondary.

49ers 34, Browns 20
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.


0 Comments

  • No Comments

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



Assessing the 49ers roster and needs after one week of free agency

By Kirk Larrabee
Mar 17

The first wave of free agency has come and gone, and the 49ers have had to say goodbye to a number of familiar faces while welcoming a few new ones. There's been a good amount of shuffling over the past week, but one thing remains clear -- the 49ers still have one of the best rosters in the NFL. There's still more players to be added in the weeks ahead, both in the draft and in free agency. The 49ers still need depth and competition in a few areas, and maybe a new starter in a key spot on special teams. But with the way things look now, the 49ers could be looking at a fairly complete roster with very few weaknesses once they're done with their offseason moves. Here's a look at where things stand by position as of March 17, along with some thoughts on where the



6 biggest 49ers draft mistakes of the Shanahan and Lynch era

By Rohan Chakravarthi
Mar 21

The San Francisco 49ers have been known as a team that has built throughout the draft in the Kyle Shanahan era, which has led to seasoned success throughout the head coach's tenure, with the organization reaching the NFC Championship Game three times over the past four seasons. However, among the several draft hits that have propelled their roster to one of the league's best, there have been several mistakes that set the organization back at the time. With the NFL Draft approaching next month, and the 49ers having another integral draft for their future success, let's revisit the five biggest draft mistakes of the Shanahan-Lynch era thus far. Honorable Mention: Trey Lance It feels absolutely unfair to place Trey Lance on this list at



Podcast: 49ers free agency 2023: Best and worst signings so far

By Rohan Chakravarthi
Mar 24

Rohan Chakravarthi and Jack Hammer discuss the 49ers free agent moves, grading the signings like Javon Hargrave thus far. The audio for the show is embedded above, while the video is available below. You can listen to "The Rohan Chakravarthi Show" from our



Podcast: 49ers with Grant Cohn: Are the 49ers the favorites in the NFC with Trey Lance?

By Rohan Chakravarthi
Mar 24

Rohan Chakravarthi and Grant Cohn discuss whether the 49ers are favorites in the NFC after free agency. The audio for the show is embedded above, while the video is available below. ?feature=share You can listen to "The Rohan Chakravarthi Show" from our


Featured

More by Matt Andruscavage

More Articles

Share 49ersWebzone