Predictions for the Cleveland Browns Monday night game against San Francisco

3 of 9

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Chris Smith #50 of the Cleveland Browns lines up against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Writer: Elliot Kennel

Game: Cleveland Browns (2-2) at San Francisco 49ers (3-0)

Summary: The 49ers must be a fantastic team to be favored by four
points. How did they earn this evaluation? Frankly it’s humiliating. They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, plus division rivals Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers.

All three of those teams have really scuffled in the early going, though Tampa Bay had a fantastic game against the Los Angeles Rams. But is the sporting world really that impressed that they beat Cincinnati and the Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh Steers?

More from Dawg Pound Daily

Isn’t this sort of like the Top 20 college football programs who pad their early-season record by playing teams like DMU (Directional Michigan University)? While not intending to put down the Bengals and Steelers, the fact is that they both started off 0-3. It’s just a fact that they have not been at their best so far this season. If you think the Browns have been overhyped, maybe the 49ers fit in that category also.

Yes, they have their franchise quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, healthy again so perhaps they are not the 4-12 team that they were last year. However, the quarterback position was not really their issue last year. In fact, Garoppolo actually had a slightly lower completion percentage, yards per game and passer rating than backup Nick Mullens. The 49ers problem is that they gave up 435 points last year.

Drafting Nick Bosa in the first round was a good idea. He has been injured part of the time but has been outstanding when he has played. The Browns need to keep him out of Baker Mayfield’s hair, while also worrying about DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead and D. J. Jones up front. Corner Richard Sherman is the most well-known of the defensive
backfield. Linebackers Fred Warner and Kwon Alexander are the leading
tacklers.

On offense, their most exciting player is running back Matt Breida, all 5-foot-10 and 190 lbs of him. He is complemented by former Browns running back Raheem Mostert. Kudos to 49ers scouting for getting two really good running backs for not much investment. However because the Browns play an extra safety in place of a linebacker, they might fare
better against the fast backs used by the 49ers.

Tight end George Kittle is leading the team in receiving yards. Second-round draft pick Deebo Samuel from South Carolina is coming on strong, so they say. Marquise Goodwin started eight games last year and had 395 receiving yards.

The 49ers are a good team, but this is not the 1972 Dolphins. They were impressive early on, but the 49ers were facing teams that were really down when they played. The Browns are hungry. The defense ate Baltimore’s lunch last week. They will contain Breida and Jimmy Garoppolo.

Prediction: Browns 24, 49ers 17

Home/Browns News