Niner Noise
FanSided

5 predictions for 49ers vs. Browns on Monday Night Football

By Peter Panacy

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns scrambles while under pressure from defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns scrambles while under pressure from defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 15: Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos sacks quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns to surpass Simon Fletcher as the Broncos all-time sack leader at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 15, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 15: Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos sacks quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns to surpass Simon Fletcher as the Broncos all-time sack leader at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 15, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Baker Mayfield Is Sacked Four Times

The Browns will get their chances on Monday Night Football, of course. And they’ll look to target players like Emmanuel Moseley early and often.

But Moseley can be assisted by what’s turned into an excellent 49ers four-man pass rush. Baker Mayfield’s struggles under pressure have already been documented, and now the prediction machine breaks down how many times San Francisco’s pass-rushers get home.

By the count, it will be four times. Perhaps more.

Mayfield has been sacked 12 times already this season, which is tied for eighth most in the league through four weeks. That’s an average of three sacks per game, for you math majors out there.

Yet the Niners’ four-man pass rush is a little more potent than many of the similar units Mayfield and the Browns have faced so far.

Dee Ford (knee) will likely be limited as a situational pass-rusher. But Nick Bosa has already established himself as a solid edge-wrecking force. The interior abilities of defensive tackles DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead are also imposing, too.

Interestingly enough, Football Outsiders ranks Cleveland’s offensive line 24th overall in pass protection a quarter of the way through the season. This is a strength-versus-weakness matchup in San Francisco’s favor.