While you seemed on the 49ers’ schedule again in August, you in all probability circled this Week 13 journey to Cleveland as a simple highway win. The Browns stink. They at all times stink. It’s a part of the NFL’s pure order, just like the solar rising or Tom Brady botching the printed name on an enormous third down.
At 3-8, they stink once more this yr.
However in the event you’re Kyle Shanahan, you higher not dare overlook this sport. As a result of this matchup is far more attention-grabbing than it has any proper to be, and it carries the danger of a season-defining embarrassment for San Francisco.
Contemplate this the last word conflict of extremes — the sort of stark, cynical distinction that solely the skilled sport can ship:
On one aspect, you’ve gotten a Browns protection that’s championship-caliber, a unit of extremely skilled assassins that’s nearly as good as any the Niners have performed. On the opposite, you’ve gotten a Cleveland offense so disjointed and dysfunctional it borders on dereliction of responsibility.
Ultimately, this sport will probably be determined by who screws up much less, and after seeing Brock Purdy’s baffling three-interception stumble towards Carolina, and realizing what this protection is with out Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, that’s not a query you need hanging over a group with playoff aspirations.
The betting line has dipped by a area purpose, and the whole has cratered to a paltry 37.5 factors. The forecast requires freezing rain. You’re not watching soccer on Sunday, of us. You’re watching the soccer equal of a Black Friday hangover. It’s going to be a dirty, low-scoring slog — and here’s what makes it a must-watch catastrophe.
The Shanahan nightmare
In the event you wished to construct a defensive unit designed to tear down the very philosophical basis of the 49ers’ offense, you’d construct this one.
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The Browns’ protection is conceptually sound, and bodily, it’s loaded. These athletes fly to the ball, filling area and breaking zone-blocking guidelines sideline-to-sideline. They’re working a single-high security, Cowl 3 or Cowl 1, sticking eight males within the field, and dashing solely 4–and so they get house on a regular basis. This is identical Gus Bradley/Robert Saleh scheme that Shanahan himself thought of the toughest protection to play, and within the arms of this expertise, it could appear to be the vaunted 2019 Niners protection.
All of it begins and ends with Myles Garrett, the closest factor to Lawrence Taylor because the man himself. He’s an edge-rushing anomaly. If San Francisco leaves Trent Williams on an island towards him, and they’re confirmed mistaken early, the sport may very well be determined by the point the adjustment is made. That is the last word measuring stick. If the Niners can successfully transfer the ball and rating towards this group, then I’m keen to start out entertaining these critical Tremendous Bowl conversations. This protection is the most effective of the most effective.
The Purdy downside and Sanders sideshow
This Browns’ protection is a terrifying take a look at for Brock Purdy. The three interceptions shouldn’t be forgotten or written off. Mix that concern with the forecast calling for freezing rain, and people whispers about Purdy’s small arms are on deck.
Unhealthy toe, dangerous throws?
Rust?
No matter it was that had Purdy flummoxed on Monday has to go away by Sunday.
Knock off that rust or the rust will probably be knocked off for you on this sport.
This can be a ripe alternative for Shanahan to get difficult. The bottom zone runs are lifeless. They need to lean into the hole scheme and their new sprint movement appears to be like that they used to undercut the Falcons’ aggressive entrance earlier this season. That is the sport for fullback Kyle Juszczyk to earn each single penny of his contract by changing into a real chess piece — a shifting goal that forces the Browns’ lightning-fast linebackers to pause for a half-second.
Fortunately for San Francisco, they get the reward of the Browns’ offense, led by Shedeur Sanders. The rookie quarterback is an influencer first and a participant second, a truth you notice immediately in the event you really watched his first begin towards the Raiders as a substitute of simply watching ESPN or scrolling Twitter.
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I did watch it, and it was objectively dangerous.
It was Large 12 nonsense — unstructured yard soccer — towards NFL competitors. He stared down receivers, bailed from clear pockets, and threw a triple-covered interception that ought to earn him a spot on a blooper reel.
Sanders has expertise and will find yourself being a reliable NFL quarterback. That competency isn’t exhibiting up by Sunday.
It’s why this sport ought to be simple for Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh: Stick eight males within the field, shut down the run sport, and dare Sanders to beat you excessive. He gained’t do it sufficient to win.
The 49ers should drive a number of turnovers. If they’ll’t come away with two or three takeaways towards a quarterback who performs as if he forgets which jerseys his teammates are carrying, then this season is successfully over.
My prediction: It’s an unpleasant, chilly, low-scoring affair. The 49ers will survive the climate and the Browns’ D.
49ers 16, Browns 11. (Sure, that rating entails a security and missed further factors. You’ve been warned.)
