Niner Noise
FanSided

4 reasons why 49ers lose to Browns on Monday Night Football

By Peter Panacy

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13: Running back Isaiah Crowell #34 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13: Running back Isaiah Crowell #34 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Raheem Mostert #31 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles the ball after getting hit low by Minkah Fitzpatrick #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of an NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 1: 49ers’ Penalties and Turnovers Get Out of Hand

Yes, San Francisco’s offense has turned into something prolific over its first three games of the season. And the defense has shown the ability to be a lock-down unit, too.

There are still some major problems, though.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Even after having a week off, the Niners have the third most offensive turnovers out of all NFL squads (eight), yet somehow managed to escape a five-turnover debacle against the Steelers in Week 3, pulling off a 24-20 win during the team’s home opener.

That was against a Pittsburgh squad, which only pulled off its first win of the year by beating the Cincinnati Bengals last week on Monday Night Football.

And the Bengals could be competing with the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins for the NFL’s worst this year.

Point being, a multi-turnover game won’t work against a better squad like the Browns, who already have seven defensive takeaways on the year — good for a seventh-place tie, along with the 49ers and New York Jets, surprisingly.

Likewise, the Niners have been penalized 25 times this season, averaging just over eight per game for a net total of 233 yards. On a positive note, Cleveland is being penalized just over 10 times per game, so that could be an advantage working in San Francisco’s favor.

But if the 49ers want to help ensure a victory, being on the right end of the penalty department would be a wise move.

Next. 2020 NFL Draft: 32-team Round 1 mock after Week 4. dark

Cleveland and San Francisco kick off on Monday, Oct. 7 at 8:15 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium.