With the bye week in their rearview mirror, the Cleveland Browns now embark on the second quarter of their 2023 season. Hopefully, the time off served Cleveland's coaches and players well because it is straight into the fire in Week 6. They're going to face the most talented roster that they will see all season when they welcome the San Francisco 49ers to Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The 49ers enter their contest with an unblemished 5-0 record, including their 42-10 dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys last week. Kyle Shanahan has his group absolutely humming right now. Through five games, San Francisco has outscored their opponents by a staggering total of 99 points.
This is a rubber meets the road game for the Browns. Are they good enough to run with the big dogs, or are they about to get dog walked? On paper, this game is closer than many would leave you to believe. But, as we all know, the game is not played on paper. Instead, this game will be played on natural grass next to Lake Erie.
Here are four massive keys to victory for the Browns in week six
Key to Victory No. 4: Establish the run
Since the incredibly unfortunate injury to Nick Chubb, the Browns have been unable to conjure up any semblance of a consistent running game. They don't need to rebuild the wheel or run the wing-T to resurrect their ground game. In the end, it will be the arm of their quarterback that ultimately provides the Browns ceiling in this contest.
But, against a team like San Francisco, you can not let yourself become one-dimensional. The 49ers defense is immensely talented and once they smell blood in the water the rest becomes a formality. The Browns must keep them as honest as possible to give themselves a chance through the air.
The onus falls on Cleveland's offensive line this week. However, this is a challenge that this offensive line has failed to meet in the last two games. The bottom line is, this is the highest-paid offensive line in the NFL, and they need to start playing like it.
If the O-line does its job, all the Browns running backs need to do is get what is there for them. That should be enough to keep the 49ers formidable pass rush from teeing off on Deshaun Watson (or possibly P.J. Walker). The rest will be up to Watson and Kevin Stefanski.
Key to Victory No. 3: Constant pressure
The Browns are built to apply pressure to quarterbacks. Pressure is the foundational element of Jim Schwartz’ defense. If they're going to have any modicum of success against the 49ers on Sunday, keeping Brock Purdy under constant pressure has to be of the utmost priority.
Breaking down Purdy’s film from his limited, yet impressive, rookie run and comparing it his five games from this season, one thing sticks out. Purdy has made a significant leap in his ability to process after the ball is snapped. This isn't a one or two-read offense and rip the ball that Kyle Shanahan runs.
Forget all the Mr. Irrelevant talk and put it aside. Purdy is a quarterback who only has 10 regular season starts under his belt, but he is playing like a savvy veteran at the most important position in professional sports. Those 10 starts have had plenty of high leverage moments and Purdy has not flinched.
However, if Cleveland's pass rush can effectively speed up Purdy’s processing by applying constant pressure, it could change the young quarterback’s efficiency. Another element of Purdy’s game that has been cleaned up from his five starts as a rookie has been his propensity to put the ball in harm’s way.
By speeding up his ability to diagnose and process, the Browns could create some turnover-worthy throws from Purdy. But that would all be for not if their secondary is unable to capitalize on the advantage their pass rush creates.
Cleveland has the personnel to accomplish the goal on their defensive line, and a defensive coordinator who more than understands the assignment. But it will take a total team effort to get Purdy to play like a quarterback who only has 10 regular season starts.
Keys to victory No. 2: Limit YAC
The San Francisco 49ers present one of the tougher matchups in the NFL in terms of simply getting their ball carriers to the ground. Their weapons make their living gaining yards after the catch. Having skill players with the ability to make guys miss and run through arm tackles opens up the entire playbook for Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy.
Those weapons exist in every skill position room for the 49ers. Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle are very adept at catching a pass short of the sticks and turning it into a huge play for their offense. By getting the ball to those players in space, Shanahan is able to maximize his offense’s efficiency and extend drives with easy concepts.
That being said, there will be opportunities for the Browns defense to get the Niners off the field on third downs if they are able to stay fundamental and make their tackles. Up until Week 4, Cleveland's defense had been one of the top tackling units in the NFL. However, the Ravens were able to cause multiple missed tackles, and as a result, the Browns gave up two long scoring drives.
This is the week to key in on the basics and get back to being a sure tackling defense. If the back seven of Schwartz’ defense can cut ball carriers down on first contact, this game could wind up a lot closer than the experts think.
Keys to victory No. 1: Win the turnover battle
Winning the turnover battle is something that could go on any ‘keys to victory’ piece, and rightly so, it is the most telling stat in terms of wins and losses. But the Browns have won two games this season in which they did not win the turnover battle. If they fail to land in the plus category in turnovers this week, rest assured, there will not be a checkmark in the victory category to go along with it.
The Cleveland Browns are negative seven in the turnover category through four games this young season. The defense has only registered three takeaways, while the Browns offense have given the ball away a painstaking 10 times. The fact that they have won two of their four games is astonishing in itself.
Juxtapose that to the 49ers are at a league-leading plus seven in the turnover category. The Niners defense has forced nine turnovers, including a league-leading eight interceptions, while their offense has yet to render a single interception and only has lost two fumbles. Pretty easy to see why they are 5-0.
If the Browns are going to hand San Francisco their first loss of the season, having a clean sheet in the turnover department will play a large part. In the strategical, as well as theatrical words of the Spartan King and warrior Leonidas ‘give them nothing but take from them everything’.