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Niner Outlaw
Stay out of my territory.
Well, we are traveling to Cleveland to play the Browns in the early game this Sunday. Niners were favored by 4, but that line has moved to 6.5. With the Niners coming off the high of beating Dallas in a nationally televised game and the Browns coming off a bye, this is a classic trap game. The Browns cannot be taken lightly.
The Brownies are currently #1 in total defense (2nd in points allowed, 1st in yards allowed). They also lead the NFL in QB knockdowns and pressure %.
--It's crazy that we just played Dallas, who was, at that time, the #1 defense in the NFL. It's like we were just here! STill, the BRwons are #1 against the pass, top 5 against the run, and #1 on 3rd downs, so the Niner offense will have their work cut out for them.
--Some will point out that the Browns have only faced a beaten up Burrow and Cincy, the Steelers, the Titans, and the Ravens. None are known for their prolific offense. Still, they held the Titans to less than 100yds of offense. They literally couldn't move the ball.
Garrett has been scary good this season. He has 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble this year. The Browns have 3 different players who have 5 TFL. That is a very aggressive defense.
On offense, the Niners are sporting a top 5 ranking. I'd expect the Niners to focus on the running game, short throws and screens. We'll have to play protection against Garrett much like we did against Parsons--focus our blocking on him so he has to face 2 blockers on just about every passing down.
On defense, the Niners are #1 in points allowed and #3 in yards allowed. That makes the Niners #2 in overall defense, right behind the Browns.
--We don't know who the Browns QB will be. Watson didn't play last week and hasn't practiced at all this week due to a shoulder issue.
--Stefanski announced that PJ Walker will start if Watson can't go--it looks like Cleveland is preparing to go without Watson. Naturally, that helps the Niners b/c Walker isn't nearly the same QB as Watson, although Watson hasn't shown much this season (and the Niners have lost to Colt McCoy's cardinals!).
The Browns offense is rather anemic. They're 23rd in points and 21st in yards gained. And they're 30th on 3rd downs and have given up 16 total sacks on the season. The Niner defense should have a relatively easy time of holding down the Browns offense, but we've said that before haven't we? With Chubb injured, the Niners will face Jerome Ford at RB. The Browns leading receiver is A.Cooper, with 18 catches for 259yds and 1 TD and their TE Njoku has 16 catches for 138yds. Cleveland is 5th in rushing yards, so their offense will be all about the ground game and the play action passing game. If the Niners can stop the run, they'll stop the entire BRowns offense.
I think the Niner defense will have to take the lead in this one as we might be conservative on offense.
Well, what do we think?
The Brownies are currently #1 in total defense (2nd in points allowed, 1st in yards allowed). They also lead the NFL in QB knockdowns and pressure %.
--It's crazy that we just played Dallas, who was, at that time, the #1 defense in the NFL. It's like we were just here! STill, the BRwons are #1 against the pass, top 5 against the run, and #1 on 3rd downs, so the Niner offense will have their work cut out for them.
--Some will point out that the Browns have only faced a beaten up Burrow and Cincy, the Steelers, the Titans, and the Ravens. None are known for their prolific offense. Still, they held the Titans to less than 100yds of offense. They literally couldn't move the ball.
Garrett has been scary good this season. He has 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble this year. The Browns have 3 different players who have 5 TFL. That is a very aggressive defense.
On offense, the Niners are sporting a top 5 ranking. I'd expect the Niners to focus on the running game, short throws and screens. We'll have to play protection against Garrett much like we did against Parsons--focus our blocking on him so he has to face 2 blockers on just about every passing down.
On defense, the Niners are #1 in points allowed and #3 in yards allowed. That makes the Niners #2 in overall defense, right behind the Browns.
--We don't know who the Browns QB will be. Watson didn't play last week and hasn't practiced at all this week due to a shoulder issue.
--Stefanski announced that PJ Walker will start if Watson can't go--it looks like Cleveland is preparing to go without Watson. Naturally, that helps the Niners b/c Walker isn't nearly the same QB as Watson, although Watson hasn't shown much this season (and the Niners have lost to Colt McCoy's cardinals!).
The Browns offense is rather anemic. They're 23rd in points and 21st in yards gained. And they're 30th on 3rd downs and have given up 16 total sacks on the season. The Niner defense should have a relatively easy time of holding down the Browns offense, but we've said that before haven't we? With Chubb injured, the Niners will face Jerome Ford at RB. The Browns leading receiver is A.Cooper, with 18 catches for 259yds and 1 TD and their TE Njoku has 16 catches for 138yds. Cleveland is 5th in rushing yards, so their offense will be all about the ground game and the play action passing game. If the Niners can stop the run, they'll stop the entire BRowns offense.
I think the Niner defense will have to take the lead in this one as we might be conservative on offense.
Well, what do we think?
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