Browns vs 49ers 2019 NFL Week 5 Odds & Game Preview

The Cleveland Browns will make their second Monday Night Football appearance in the first five weeks of the 2019 NFL season when they visit the San Francisco 49ers. The Browns did not really look like their new and improved selves until Week 3, when they held their own against the Los Angeles Rams. Even though the Rams won, we saw Cleveland’s defense finally show up against an elite opponent. The offense did not really accomplish much, but then they made their adjustments in time for the next week’s games, as they shocked much of the sports betting world (including this writer) by rolling to a 40-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens to move into a tie for the AFC North lead. San Francisco comes into this game off their bye week, still 3-0 and one of three unbeatens left in the league. Can the 49ers make it 3-0? Or will Cleveland keep rolling? Check out our thoughts in this matchup of the Browns vs 49ers.

Browns vs 49ers 2019 NFL Week 5 Odds & Game Preview

Monday night's contest will depend on the run game on both sides of the ball

The Winning Mix » https://t.co/seygFcnbjh pic.twitter.com/3qjFkZIKay

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 7, 2019

When: Monday, October 7, 2019, 8:15pm ET Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA TV: ESPN Radio: Westwood One Live Stream: ESPN+ NFL Odds: San Francisco -4 / O/U 47

Why should you bet on the Browns?

The Cleveland offense finally looked like those optimists said it would in Week 4, as they gained 530 yards of offense. Baker Mayfield went 20 for 30 for 342 yards and a score, and tailback Nick Chubb ran 20 times for 165 yards and three scores. Just as impressive was the Cleveland defense, which managed to contain Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is adding deep balls to his repertoire, making him one of the game’s most dangerous quarterbacks. Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry went out with a concussion in the win over Baltimore, but he has cleared the concussion protocol and returned to practice, so it is extremely likely that he will take the field on Monday night. The problem for the Browns is their offensive line, as their depth at left tackle has sorely been tested by injury, and Mayfield still has to spend too much time running for his life. If he can work on getting rid of the ball sooner, the sacks will go down, and so will the turnovers.

Why should you put your money on the 49ers?

San Francisco edged Pittsburgh at home in their last game, 24-20, despite coughing the ball up five different times. Jimmy Garoppolo went 23 for 32 for 277 yards and a touchdown, and Rahee Mostart ran for 79 yards. San Francisco was 6 for 11 on third downs and gained almost 200 more yards of offense than the Steelers did. Now, Pittsburgh was 0-3 until they beat Cincinnati last week, so beating the Steelers at home by four is not the biggest accomplishment, but San Francisco is the only unbeaten left in the NFC. The 49ers have the edge in terms of offensive line play. Their unit is healthier than Cleveland’s is, and they have not allowed the sort of pass rush that Cleveland has. So if you like the 49ers, you see their offense finding traction against a difficult Browns defense, with Garoppolo continuing to show that he has elite quarterback potential after his long layoff.

Final Score Prediction

Before Cleveland went to Baltimore, I was starting to question my optimism about the Browns. They are full of youth and talent, but they were not meshing well on either side of the ball. Now that they showed their stuff in a big road win, I see no reason why they cannot do the same thing against a 49ers team that has an offense and defense that are not, in my opinion, as good as the units that they just beat when they took down the Ravens. I predict a final score of Cleveland 23, San Francisco 20.