The Browns face their biggest challenge of the young season as they prepare to take on the undefeated 49ers. Beating them with a backup QB who was just promoted from the practice squad might seem like a hopeless task, but the NFL has seen wilder upsets before. Here, we’ll explore important factors that can give Cleveland at least somewhat of a chance in this matchup.
1. Control the 49ers pass rush
The Browns’ pass protection struggles have persisted throughout the season, and now they face the league’s top pass-rushing unit, all while missing their best offensive lineman, Joel Bitonio. In DTR’s debut against Baltimore, Stefanski used an abundance of 11-personnel sets, a trend I hope to see less of in this game. Given the challenges for both offensive tackles, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a significant increase in 13-personnel and more 6-linemen sets than usual. Considering that P.J. Walker is more experienced than DTR, the Browns should get more consistent, veteran play from him. The offensive strategy is likely to focus on quick-hitting concepts, screens, and a few play-action passes to keep the defense on its toes. Minimizing turnovers will be crucial, given that the offense will have a difficult time generating points anyways.
2. Get the run game going
Since Nick Chubb’s injury, the Browns’ running game has struggled to find consistency. This poses an even greater challenge, with a backup quarterback who could really benefit from sharing the offensive load. While we’ve seen a few explosive plays from the running backs, particularly Ford, they often resulted from broken tackles or improvisation when plays broke down. The offensive line hasn’t yet recaptured their former run-blocking form, leaving limited opportunities for the running backs. To succeed against this incredible 49ers’ front, it’s essential for the Browns to avoid negative plays on early downs, preventing obvious passing situations. This task becomes even more difficult due to the absence of a key run-blocking lineman in Bitonio. Stefanski will need to get creative, perhaps by focusing on utilizing Teller as a weapon in the run game.
3. Physical coverage
The 49ers offense becomes nearly unstoppable when Purdy and his receivers establish their rhythm. Given Purdy’s exceptional ability to process the game quickly and release the ball fast, disrupting the receivers in their routes seems to be the best approach for the Browns. An advantage is that Purdy isn’t a significant running threat, allowing Cleveland to play a lot of man coverage without worrying about his mobility. Additionally, wrapping up tackles will be essential, as it’s been an issue lately and stopping players like McCaffrey, Samuel, and Kittle won’t be an easy task. With the Browns offense needing all the help it can get, a dominant defensive performance might be their only chance to win this game.
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