The Cleveland Browns entered the season with a lot of fanfare, but the glow on them wore off after a 1-2 start. The Browns looked solid in their 40-25 win at the Baltimore Ravens last week, though, to get them going and given them a chance to build momentum in San Francisco on Monday night.
A lot of the attention the Browns received was centered around the combination of Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but the team has been getting things going on the ground. The Browns are ninth in the league in yards per rush attempt with 4.9 as running back Nick Chubb rolled up 165 yards and three touchdowns against the Ravens. For the year, he has 398 yards, just 13 yards shy of Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey for the league lead as play began this weekend.
This is a huge aid to a struggling Mayfield, who through four games has completed 59 percent of his passes with four touchdowns to six interceptions. With the 49ers being eighth in the league in fewest yards per completion allowed on defense, it likely will lead to the Browns committing to the ground early.
For the 49ers, they attempt the second-fewest passes per game with 28.3 and are second in the league in rushing yards per game with 175. The Browns struggling pass game coupled with the way the 49ers have been able to find success on their way to a 3-0 start should lead to a lower-scoring game that stays under the total.
The Over/Under Play: Browns vs. 49ers, Under 46¹/₂.