Many expected the 49ers to cruise on the road against the Browns because they were forced to start backup quarterback PJ Walker due to Deshaun Watson’s shoulder injury. But many were wrong, including all of us at .
We also all incorrectly chose the Eagles to beat the Jets. (Sorry about the reminders, colleagues.) With the Jets and Browns pulling off the upsets, there are no undefeated teams in the NFL after six weeks. Pop them bottles, 1972 Dolphins!
The 49ers were the safe bet to win, but many failed to remember that the Browns have one of the best defenses in the league. The Browns’ dominant defense is no longer being overlooked after their 19–17 victory.
Oh, and we also forgot about Jim Schwartz’s undefeated streak against 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, but more on that in a bit.
The Jets’ stellar defense also made a statement during their 20–14 win against the Eagles.
We learned plenty about the Browns’ and Jets’ defenses on Sunday. But that’s not all we learned in Week 6 of the NFL season.
Browns make case for having the best defense in NFL
The Browns’ defense deserves a ton of credit for handing the 49ers their first loss of the season and containing their explosive offense. Yes, the 49ers didn’t have Deebo Samuel (shoulder) for most of the game and Christian McCaffrey (oblique) missed most of the fourth quarter. But the Browns have given most offenses fits this season, as they entered Sunday with the best total defense in terms of yards allowed per game (200.4). 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy saw constant pressure and struggled to get in any rhythm, completing 12-of-27 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
On the final drive, the 49ers could have gained a few more yards for their rookie kicker Jake Moody. Instead, San Francisco decided to spike the ball instead of risking a loss of yards. Moody followed by missing a potential game-winning, 41-yard field goal, sealing the Browns’ signature victory. Cleveland (3–2) held San Francisco (5–1) to 215 yards—the first time the 49ers were held under 300 yards in a game since Week 3 of last season.
San Francisco also has a strong defense, but the team that won might have the best defense in the league. The hiring of Schwartz as defensive coordinator is paying off for the Browns. Fun fact: Shanahan is 1–9 in games against Schwartz since they first clashed as coordinators in 2008.
