5 matchups 49ers need to win in Week 5 to beat Browns
By Elvis Jerez
Contain. Exploit. Dominate. That’s what the San Francisco 49ers need to do to secure a win at home against the Cleaveland Browns and stay undefeated through Week 5.
The San Francisco 49ers have a very real chance to start the season 4-0 on the season with a prime-time win on Monday Night Football.
But a victory for the Niners won’t come easy, since they welcome quarterback Baker Mayfield and a vastly improved 2-2 Cleveland Browns team coming off a big win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4.
In order to pull off the win, San Francisco will need to contain the Browns pass rush, air assault and ground game, exploit Mayfield’s happy feet and dominate at tight end.
No. 1: Contain Myles Garrett
The key to a productive offense is keeping 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo upright. This will be no easy feat for Justin Skule, who’s still filling in for an injured Joe Staley at left tackle.
Skule will be asked to protect Jimmy G’s blindside against the beastly defensive end, Myles Garrett.
According to NextGen Stats, Garrett’s average separation from the quarterback is only 4.2 yards through four games this season. The Browns’ fastest sacks in that span average a blistering 3.1 seconds, one full second faster than the Niners.
Skule has only one start and three games under his belt, so the rookie tackle out of Vanderbilt will have all he can handle fending off Garrett, but he’ll have to step up.
The Niners defense will have to reply in kind against the pass.