Five undefeated teams suffered their first loss last week with the Bills, Cowboys, Lions, Packers, Rams failing to secure a week four victory. With only three remaining undefeated teams heading into week five, the Chiefs, Patriots, and 49ers stand alone atop their respected divisions and conferences.
Week five kicks off tonight with a matchup between NFC West foes, as the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks battle it out in front of the 12th man during Thursday Night Football. Both teams sitting at 3-1 on the season will be closely watching Monday Night's game between the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers.
Cleveland Browns (2-2) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)
The Cleveland Browns enter week five playing their best football of the season, having demolished the Ravens 40-25. After a rough 1-2 start to the season, the Browns looked like the team many predicted them to be last week.
Nick Chubb rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns while Baker Mayfield found Jarvis Landry eight times for a total of 167 yards. Mayfield himself topped out at 342 yards making last Sunday's win an all-around team effort. Heading into Week five against San Francisco, all systems are a go.
San Francisco, on the other hand, has been dominant all season. Albeit facing off against three sub-par teams, the 49ers rank fourth in total offense and third in total defense. Just like the Browns, San Francisco has found the majority of their success via the running game.
Led by Matt Breida, the 49ers rank second in rushing offense with 175 yards per game. The rushing attack will see a boost this week as Tevin Coleman is expected to be active giving San Francisco another weapon and much-needed depth behind Breida.
While Chubb may be the "better back," Cleveland's rushing defense, ranking 21st in the league, stands little chance at stopping Breida and Coleman.
San Francisco is an entirely different story. Led by Deforest Buckner and breakout star Arik Armstead, the Niners have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season. On top of limiting touchdowns, San Francisco gives up the fifth-fewest amount yards at 75 per game.
With the 49ers having the edge on the ground, Cleveland has the advantage through the air.
The Browns rank 12th in passing offense, and with Mayfield's number seven quarterback ranking, the Browns are the superior air attack. Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry will be San Francisco's toughest challenge yet, and with Landry heating up, it could spell doom for the 49ers.
While Richard Sherman has nullified any star receiver on opposing offenses, (sorry OBJ), San Francisco will be down two cornerbacks, including rising star Ahkello Witherspoon. Emmanuel Moseley will get his first NFL start and a defensive back green behind the ears going against an All-Pros in Beckham or Landry can never bode well.
Undoubtedly the key factor in the game will be the turnover battle and Jimmy Garoppolo.
The 49ers currently sit 23rd in turnover differential. San Francisco has been phenomenal at forcing takeaways this season. In their first game against the Buccaneers, the team totaled three interceptions (already surpassing their 2018 total). The success carried over in week two against the Bengals, but week three is where the 49ers' mistakes almost cost them.
Garoppolo is good for one interception a game, but the fumbles were the bigger issue. Jimmy G threw two interceptions, but the team fumbled three times in the RedZone, leaving 21 points off the board.
If the Niners can limit the turnovers to Garappolo's one guaranteed interception, they'll have success and get the win at home in their first prime time game of the season.
For Cleveland, the teams' turnover differential sits at the mediocre 14th overall. Despite the ranking, the Browns have a +1 in their favor. Mayfield is the wild card on the Browns offense, totaling all six of the team's turnovers.
Pro Football Focus' number one ranked pass rusher Nick Bosa will surely have Mayfield under pressure all night, and with Cleveland's offensive lines giving up 12 sacks thus far, the 49ers defense will feast on Monday Night.
Verdict:
The Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers face off in what could be a pivotal game of the season. The Browns can catapult themselves into first place in the AFC North, and the 49ers can prove they are true contenders in the NFC.
Being straightforward, the 49ers are the better team. They have a better rushing attack, and with Pro Football Focus' top-ranked player tight end George Kittle over the middle opens the offense better than any weapon in the NFL.
The 49ers also have the better pass rush led by Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and DeForest Buckner, totaling nine sacks.
What the Browns have, that the 49ers do not, is two top receivers in the NFL, with one coming off his best game of the season. If Mayfield can build on last week's performance, the Browns offense can make a dent in the scoreboard by targeting the Niners secondary.
Unfortunately, the Browns make too many mistakes with 41 penalties, and any team knows giving a Kyle Shanahan led offense is a death sentence.
Final Score: 49ers 28, Browns 24
Week 5 Predictions:
Rams (3-1) vs. Seahawks (3-1) - Seahawks 28, Rams 26
Jets (0-3) vs. Eagles (2-2) - Eagles 33, Jets 10
Jaguars (2-2) vs. Panthers (2-2) - Jaguars 23, Panthers 17
Vikings (2-2) vs. Giants (2-2) - Vikings 26, Giants 16
Falcons (1-3) vs. Texans (2-2) - Texans 27, Falcons 20
Bills (3-1) vs. Titans (2-2) - Bills 23, Titans 17
Cardinals (0-3-1) vs. Bengals (0-4) - Cardinals 26, Bengals 17
Patriots (4-0) vs. Redskins (0-4) - Patriots 33, Redskins 16
Ravens (2-2) vs. Steelers (1-3) - Ravens 36, Steelers 20
Bears (3-1) vs. Raiders (2-2) - Bears 26, Raiders 24
Broncos (0-4) vs. Chargers (2-2) - Chargers 26, Broncos 17
Packers (3-1) vs. Cowboys (3-1) - Cowboys 28, Packers 26
Colts (2-2) vs. Chiefs (4-0) - Chiefs 34, Colts 24
Buccaneers (2-2) vs. Saints (3-1) - Saints 24, Bucs 20
Bye Week: Lions, Dolphins
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