49ers at Browns: Five keys to potential shutout win in Cleveland
The 49ers' defense will encounter an injury-ravaged Browns' offense in Cleveland, while Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey look to extend impressive streaks for the undefeated Niners.
CLEVELAND – The 49ers’ quest for six wins, on a potential path to a sixth Lombardi Trophy, comes Sunday in a rare visit to the Browns’ lakefront home.
This won’t offer the friendly comforts of Levi’s Stadium, site of the 49ers’ past three wins, the biggest of which came Sunday night in 42-10 fashion over the Dallas Cowboys.
But the injury-plagued Browns (2-2) could be gracious and overmatched hosts, so they hope the 49ers (5-0) are poised for a letdown after their lopsided win over their storied rival.
“They’re riding their high horse right now,” Browns safety Grant Delpit told Cleveland.com, “so that’s probably the best time to get them.”
The 49ers are 10-point favorites, but their egos are checked. Afforded a “Victory Monday” off, the 49ers locker room vibe wasn’t abnormal once practices resumed Wednesday, and, in fact, it was a subdued setting after Thursday’s practice. “I feel like we still have left stuff out there, where we can be our best and still reach our full potential,” Brock Purdy said.
Friday’s flight brought them to Cleveland, where they’re making their first appearance since 2015. The 49ers are 2-7 there since 1950, and one win came from their 1984 Super Bowl-winning team. Now the 49ers again look like a Lombardi Trophy favorite.
“They’ve got to come see us at the end of the day,” Delpit added. “They’re coming to our house, man.”
Here are five ways the 49ers can win a franchise-record 16th straight regular-season game:
1. DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
Don’t be stunned if the 49ers post their first road shutout since Sept. 30, 2012 (34-0 at the New York Jets). The Browns’ offense is missing more than just quarterback Deshaun Watson (rotator cuff) for a second straight game.
Left guard Joel Bitonio (knee) will end his streak of 102 straight games for an offense that, earlier this season, lost running back Nick Chubb and right tackle Jack Conklin to season-ending knee injuries.
Bitonio’s absence could be great news for Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw on their interior rushes against Watson’s replacement, quarterback P.J. Walker, who is less than two months removed from getting cut by the Chicago Bears. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson started last game and had three passes intercepted in a 28-3 home loss to Baltimore.
Walker did face the 49ers last October, replacing an injured Baker Mayfield and completing 5-of-6 passes but getting sacked by Tashaun Gipson and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles in that 37-15 road win by the 49ers. Walker then went 2-3 as the Panthers before getting replaced by Sam Darnold, who’s now Purdy’s backup. Also on that Carolina team last year: Steve Wilks, who’s now the coordinator of a 49ers’ defense yielding the NFL’s fewest points (13.6 per game) and third-fewest yards (266.8).
Wilks shouldn’t need to blitz as much as last game, so the 49ers could rely on their traditional four-man front, with Nick Bosa on one edge and possibly Randy Gregory debuting on the other side or as Bosa’s backup.
2. CONTAIN MYLES GARRETT
Left tackle Trent Williams may be an All-Pro but he’s lost sleep leading into his first matchup against Myles Garrett, the Browns’ powerful pass rusher who has 80 sacks since arriving as the 2017 No. 1 pick (in a draft the 49ers originally had the No. 2 pick).
Williams repeatedly labeled Garrett a “juggernaut” for his combination of size, speed, craftiness and agility. “For me, it was like one of those old DeMarcus Ware matchups,” Williams said of his Washington days facing the Cowboys’ pass rusher. “I was a young stud and he was a Hall of Fame player … One of those guys without a weakness and can embarrass you.”
Although Garrett typically opposes the left tackle, the 49ers’ entire line is on alert, including right tackle Colton McKivitz, who’s come on strong after yielding three sacks in the opener to T.J. Watt.
Garrett has 5 ½ sacks this season. Williams has allowed none. “It’s going to be excellent,” tight end George Kittle said of that matchup. “Trent is a walking Hall of Famer, still playing at an extremely high level. … Trent will be at the top of his game and it’ll be fun to watch.”
3. RUN ON THE BROWNS
After hanging 42 points on what was the NFL’s stingiest defense in the Cowboys, the 49ers take their high-scoring ways against what now is the NFL’s No. 1 defense in terms of total yards allowed and fewest passing yards. Running won’t easy, either. The Browns are yielding 3.22 yards per game, the NFL’s second-best average. But now would be a great time for the 49ers to remind everyone they can run at will, all due respect to Purdy’s passing prowess.
Christian McCaffrey can join LaDainian Tomlinson (2005) as the only players since 2000 to run for a touchdown in each of a team’s first six games in a season. Of course, McCaffrey’s scoring spree stretches further than that. He has a 14-game streak (playoffs included.
McCaffrey leads the NFL with 99 carries, 510 rushing yards, 678 all-purpose yards, and, perhaps, hard hits from head-hunting defenders. “That stuff happens, whether intent is wrong or not,” McCaffrey said. “My job is not to be put in those situations and do a better job of avoiding them. I wouldn’t say it’s intentional, but I also don’t know. It’s football. It happens.”
Perhaps it’s Deebo Samuel’s turn to take some of that workload away from McCaffrey. Samuel has two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing). If Elijah Mitchell is not ready to return from a two-game hiatus, Jordan Mason has proven capable of relieving McCaffrey.
4. MORE PRECISE PASSING
None of Purdy’s past 235 passes have been picked off, and the Browns only have one interception all season. Which side is due to snap out of it?
The 49ers are proceeding with extreme caution in regarding to the Browns’ defense, beyond Garrett’s presence. In fact, some see similarities in the Browns’ and 49ers’ defenses.
Said Williams: ”They have an all-world pass rusher, they have linebackers that fly around, they have DBs that challenge you and play really sticky cover, they have interior defensive linemen that get penetration. I do see a lot of similarities.”
Those defensive backs include homegrown starters in cornerbacks Denzel Ward (first round, 2018), Greg Newsome (first round, 2021), and Martin Emerson (third round, 2022), plus safety Delpit (second round, 2020). Their other safety is Juan Thornhill, a free agent acquisition who intercepted Purdy in relief of Jimmy Garoppolo with 1 ½ minutes left in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 44-23 win last Oct. 23 at Levi’s Stadium – the 49ers’ last regular-season loss.
Garrett anchors a defensive front but former Packers and Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith “is no slouch,” said McKivitz. With left guard Aaron Banks having strained his right shoulder last game, the 49ers must be on alert for interior pressure, from the Browns’ Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris and former 49er Maurice Hurst.
5. ANOTHER HOT START
The 49ers’ opening possessions in five games have produced four touchdowns and a field goal. The Browns’ defensive stature is reflected by how they’ve stopped opponents’ first drives: punt, interception, punt, and punt. Opponents went 3-and-out to start in three of those four games.
“It’s a really good challenge for us,” Purdy said. “They do a great job with just getting after the offensive line, pushing them back and getting up on the quarterback’s toes, sort of pushing the quarterback off balance with just being in rhythm for a play.”
Failure to get a first down? That’s happened on only 6-of-54 overall possessions this season by the 49ers, tied with Buffalo for the NFL’s lowest percentage (11.1%).
The 49ers have had only one halftime deficit this season, and that came in their last road game, a 30-23 win over the Rams in Week 2. If the 49ers can score out the gate, that will alleviate concerns of a groggy start, which they’ve been able to avoid in 10 a.m. (PT) kickoffs.
The Browns are coming off their bye, so they’ll be anxious to get back into action, even without those key offensive starters. Then again, they’re not hot starters on opening possessions: punt, interception, field goal, punt.