The San Francisco 49ers have scored 30 or more points in a franchise record eight consecutive games. This is the longest such streak in the NFL since the Denver Broncos won 11 straight from week 15 of 2012 to week 8 of 2013.
San Francisco’s record setting run could be in danger of coming to an end against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has owned 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
The two have faced off nine times since 2008, eight as head coaches or coordinators. Schwartz has won 8 of those matchups, including the last seven while holding Shanahan’s offense to an average of just 15.7 points per contest.
As the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator in 2016, Shanahan’s offense got off to a hot start. Over the first nine weeks of the season the Falcons averaged 33.8 points per game.
In week 10 they traveled to Philadelphia to take on an Eagles defense led by Schwartz.
The Falcons scored just 15 points in a 23-15 loss.
During his weekly media availability on Wednesday, Shanahan was asked about the challenges of facing a Browns defense which has allowed just 196.8 yards per game.
“They rush the passer every play and then react to everything else. Myles Garrett combined with Schwartz’s scheme and the guys around him, it’s a problem. It’s obvious why they’re a top defense right now.
“When you have the D-Line they have, the downhill linebackers, you better have some good corners and they have very good ones. They play a lot of man-to-man coverage. They’ll mix in some zone. But, when you play that much man-to-man and you’re also the number one pass defense in the league, you’ve got to have some good corners.”
In a twist, it could be Shanahan’s defense which proves to be the difference on Sunday.
Cleveland will likely be without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson on Sunday. The veteran quarterback missed the Browns last game on October 1 with a shoulder injury and has yet to practice.
If Watson is unable to go all signs point towards Cleveland moving to P.J. Walker.
Advantage 49ers.
Walker has made seven career starts from 2020-2022 with the Carolina Panthers. He has completed 57.5 percent of his passes and thrown 11 interceptions to just 5 touchdowns.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Browns will be without Nick Chubb. Chubb was lost for the season to a knee injury during a week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In their two games since losing Chubb, Cleveland has managed just 3.1 yards per rush attempt.