Do The Browns Have the Weapons On Defense To Shut Down the 49ers?

A Top-5 NFL offense versus the NFL's number one defense, Sunday will be worth the price of admission and then some.

The San Francisco 49ers will come into Sunday trailing only the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles in total offensive yards. Only the Dolphins have outpaced their staggering 33.4 points per game. How do they make it happen?

Quarterback

How can you not root for Brock Purdy? He went from Mr. Irrelevant to a legit top-five quarterback in just two seasons. He is 10-0 as a starter and has thrown 22 touchdowns to just four interceptions.

He is incredibly accurate and yet his most impressive trait is his anticipation. He makes up for lacking arm strength with his ability to be two steps ahead of the defense.

Running Backs

Chrisitan McCaffery. The conversation could end there but let's talk about one of the best football players in all the NFL. He can run it between the tackles, he can stretch the perimeter, he can run right through you or beat you with speed. Also, good luck covering him when he runs a route. You pick your poison and McCaffery will exploit you.

He has proven his worth since being traded nearly one year ago on October 20th 2022. The 49ers are 15-0 in regular season games that he has started, and he has scored a touchdown in 11 straight games (-275 anytime touchdown scorer).

Wide Receivers

There are three names that you need to remember: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings.

Aiyuk and Samuel are legit superstars. Rarely do they both go off in the same game, normally it's one or the other. With that said, Aiyuk comes into this matchup with 378 yards and two touchdowns. Samuel has contributed 302 yards and one score.

While those two take the headlines, Jennings is clutch when they need him. He doesn't have many catches, but when he does catch the ball it is in a critical time of the game.

Tight Ends

If San Francisco didn't have enough star power, they also have arguably the best Tight End in the NFL. George Kittle is football. He will block like an All-Pro Left Tackle and catch the ball like an All-Pro Wide Receiver. He is coming off of a three-touchdown performance against the Cowboys. Look for him to make a huge impact.

Offensive Line

This is one of the best groups in all of the NFL. They are led by future Hall-of-Fame Tackle Trent Williams. He has the feet of a ballerina and unlimited strength. He has the skillset to totally neutralize a pass rush, especially that of a superstar like Myles Garrett.

Williams is accompanied by guards Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford, center Jake Brendel, and right tackle Colton McKivitz. Combined, this group has given up eight sacks and they rush for 156 yards per game.

The Browns Gameplan

This 49ers offense has it all, but so does the Brown's defense. The defense that Jim Schwartz has put out on the field the first five weeks of the year has been historically good. They haven't even given up 1,000 total yards. So how do they stop this offense Sunday?

Confuse Brock Purdy (and Kyle Shanahan).

Study the Shanahan system and you will find that it is very structured. Decisions are determined by what the defense shows the quarterback. If the Browns can do a quality job of showing one coverage then rolling to another, they will be able to slow Brock Purdy down.

Bend Don't Break

The 49ers are going to hit big plays on Saturday. Just accept it. The key for Cleveland is that when they do hit a big play, do whatever it takes to keep them out of the end zone. Giving up field goals keeps you in the game, touchdowns will kill your afternoon.

Turn Them Over

The Browns must find a way to turn Brock Purdy over. He has yet to cough up the football this year. But a combination of the Browns elite pass rush, elite secondary, and a little bit of bad weather may prove beneficial to the Brown's chances.

If the Browns are able to win on Sunday it is going to be because the defense came to play and wreaked havoc on the 49er offense. Do these things and this will be a game late in the fourth quarter.

Important to note that Jim Scwartz and Kyle Shanahan have faced each other 9 times and Scwartz is 8-1 vs Shanahan. He will have the Browns ready to play and compete on Sunday.