The Browns scratched and clawed their way to a tough win over one of the NFL’s premiere teams in the San Francisco 49ers. Cleveland used their third starting quarterback in as many games which made it difficult to create somewhat of an offensive rhythm. Nevertheless, another dominant performance by the Browns historical defense led the team to their third win of the season and brought them another step closer to the playoffs.
Vintage Stefanski
The offensive game plan against San Francisco resembled the 2020-2021 Browns offense. It featured a balanced mix of runs and screen passes to set up the play-action passing game. Notably, there was a much-improved performance in run blocking, which had been holding the run game back since Chubb’s injury. The tandem of Ford and Hunt played a significant role on offense, with Hunt showcasing his “no-nonsense”, downhill running style while Ford was often dancing behind the line, trying to find holes for big plays. Both contributed crucial plays in key scoring situations.
Despite some costly penalties by the offensive line, which they definitely need to address, they put on an impressive performance even without their All-Pros at right tackle and left guard. In my opinion, their showing against one of the NFL’s best defensive fronts was the biggest reason this offense managed to score just enough points to win the game. I particularly liked Stefanski’s innovative use of the QB/TE sneak formation, which resulted in Cleveland’s only touchdown in the game and consistently delivered big plays or crucial conversions throughout the season. The energy that Jim Schwartz has brought to the defense is starting to rub off on the offense, with players from both units celebrating regularly on and off the field. Let’s hope this trend continues and sparks a similar confidence in the offensive unit.
Problem Child: Quarterback
While P.J. Walker did deliver some impressive throws for a quarterback just elevated from the practice squad, he made some head-scratching decisions. The two interceptions were critical mistakes by Walker that could have cost the Browns the game, were it not for their exceptional defense. Additionally, there were a few instances where Walker missed wide-open receivers. Two of these misses occurred during the final field goal drive, which could have ended without an “unnecessary roughness” penalty. However, this game confirmed that Amari Cooper is undoubtedly an alpha number one receiver. His leaping catch on 3rd and 6, where he rose above the defender to haul in the ball, was one of the most impressive catches of the year. Cooper could have had an even more outstanding stat line if Walker didn’t miss him on at least two more big play opportunities.
The offense still has a long road ahead in terms of improvement, but I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve seen, particularly from the offensive line and the run game. Furthermore, having a historic defense to rely on is a significant advantage for the offense. I don’t believe there are many, if any, teams that win this game with an offensive performance like the Browns’.
A Historical Defense
Once again, the Browns’ defense emerged as the game-changer. I particularly loved Schwartz’s game plan, strategically neutralizing San Francisco’s strengths. Cleveland managed to create pressure with just four defensive linemen, enabling them to play physical man coverage throughout the game, all while maintaining safety help over the top. The Browns basically lived in nickel packages, switching between three safeties and three cornerbacks based on the offensive matchup. They were able to take a lot of the electric weapons for San Francisco out of the game and disrupt their timing with Purdy. Whenever CMC faced one-on-one coverage, the defender played with strong outside leverage, effectively containing him from breaking loose and gain significant yards after the catch. Apart from the first and last drives, this game was a clinic for this historical Cleveland defense.
Impact of the Defensive Front
Dalvin Tomlinson delivered his best performance since joining the team. His primary role is to disrupt the offensive line, and in this game, he executed it flawlessly. With the offense forced to shift protection to Myles Garrett, Tomlinson found himself in several one-on-one situations with interior linemen, allowing him to disrupt plays in the backfield. While his individual stats may not be spectacular, his impact on the game and the way he sets his teammates up for success is undeniable and incredibly underrated. One of the beneficiaries of his disruptive work is JOK, who was flying all over the field, making plays throughout the whole game. Due to the dominant defensive line, JOK had numerous opportunities to get in the backfield untouched, which often wasn’t the case in previous years.
Cleveland’s pass rush secured 3 sacks, but its impact on Purdy extended far beyond the stat sheet. Schwartz makes great use of the diverse skillsets of his linemen, deploying them in a variety of positions. This versatility makes it so much harder for offensive linemen to figure out rushers and disrupt their influence on plays. There were a lot of throws that Purdy can make in his sleep but missed due to defenders coming right at him and forcing him to protect himself. While the defense’s aggression occasionally results in penalties and undisciplined coverage, it remains the reason Cleveland is able to secure wins, even with their third different starting quarterback of the season.
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