Category: San Francisco 49ers

49ers Dominate Browns 31-3 on Monday Night Football

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By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA — For the first time since 1990, the San Francisco 49ers have started their season 4-0; thanks to a 31-3 Monday Night beatdown of the Cleveland Browns. In 1990, Joe Montana led the Niners to a 10-0 start and a birth in the NFC title game.

They looked like a team destined for greatness on Monday, owning Cleveland on all sides of the ball, led by a stifling defense and a hard run game.

Defensively, the Niners were all over the Browns, as Cleveland couldn’t do anything. The 49ers pass rush made life difficult for Baker Mayfield, who was held to 8 completions on 22 attempts for 100 yards. He also threw two interceptions and was sacked four times.

Second-overall pick, Nick Bosa shined in primetime with his best performance to date. He was all over the place, finishing with two sacks, five QB hits, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
He became the first Niner in 25 years to finish two sacks, a forced fumble, and a recovery.

Bosa earned his revenge on Mayfield, who famously planted an Oklahoma flag in the middle of Ohio State’s Horseshoe when his Sooners’ upset Bosa’s Buckeyes a few years ago. Bosa celebrated a sack by re-creating it on Monday.

The Niners started the night great, forcing Cleveland to punt on their opening possession. The fireworks began from there, as Matt Breida opened the game on an 83-yard gash to the endzone, giving San Francisco an immediate 7-0 lead.

Breida’s run was the fifth-longest in franchise history and the longest run by a Niner since Kaepernick went 90 yards against the Chargers in 2014. His run was clocked at 22.30 MPH by NFL NextGen Stats, the fastest speed reached by any player over the last two seasons.

Breida led San Francisco’s rushing effort that dashed the Browns for 275 yards. He finished with 114 yards on 11 carries. Tevin Coleman returned from injury for 97 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, while Raheem Mostert played clean-up duty in the second half with seven carries for 34 yards.

Breida picked up his second touchdown of the evening later in the first quarter, catching a five-yard pass from Garoppolo to extend the lead to 14-0.

The Niners extended their lead to 21-3 late in the second quarter on a Coleman 19-yard run. The drive was set up again by the defense standing tall in their own red zone with K’Waun Williams picking off Mayfield on the goal line and returning it to midfield.

Jimmy Garoppolo threw his lone touchdown in the third quarter, finding George Kittle from 20 yards out to make it 28-3. Garoppolo quietly threw two touchdowns on 20-of-29 for 181 yards, doing just enough to complement the extraordinary run game. Through four games, Garoppolo has thrown seven touchdowns to seven different receivers.

Kittle was his primary target, bringing in six balls for 70 yards and his first touchdown of the season.

The one dark spot for the 49ers was their kicking game. Robbie Gould continues to struggle this year, and on Monday night, he missed three more field goals. Missing from 47 and 52 yards, he was also blocked from 32 yards out.

Even more concerning, Kyle Juszczyk exited the game with an apparent knee sprain. He’s scheduled for an MRI on Monday, and the 49ers are hopeful it won’t be a long-term injury. The fullback has been an under-the-radar bright spot for San Francisco, setting up most of the Niners’ big runs.

Now on a short week, the Niners face their biggest test yet this Sunday in Los Angeles as they take on the Rams. It will be intriguing to see how this offense operates without one of their key cogs in the backfield if Juszczyk is unable to go.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: 49ers-Browns could be the primetime show of the season on Monday Night Football

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On the 49ers podcast with Joe:

#1 The Cleveland Browns (2-2) are the 49ers (3-0) next opponents at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The Browns are noted for having the most aggressive offense in the NFL.

#2 In their last game, the Browns made handy work of the Baltimore Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh with a 40-25 win. Can the 49ers defense do anything against this wide-open offense that Cleveland brings on Monday Night Football?

#3 Talk about the Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. He was 20-30 for 342 yards one touchdown and one interception. He was a force under center last Sunday against Baltimore.

#4 The Browns are not too shabby on defense. Will the 49ers’ line be able to buy quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo some time in the pocket against a quick rushing Browns defense?

#5 Finally, Joe tells us about the match up between the Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers on America’s number one primetime show Monday Night Football. Where Joe asks only one question: “Are you ready for some football?”

Joe Lami does the 49ers podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Unbeaten Niners prep for dangerous Browns on Monday night

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By Jeremy Harness

SANTA CLARA–The 49ers are the only unbeaten team left in the NFC, something that has not happened in a very long time. Let that sink in for a little bit.

OK, good. Now that’s out of the way, on to the next order of business. And these aren’t the same Cleveland Browns that we have been accustomed to for the past few years.

In fact, the team that will be inside Levi’s Stadium to face the 49ers Monday night just knocked off the Baltimore Ravens on the road last Sunday, and they will have some offensive momentum going their way after the 40-25 win.

Baker Mayfield, who has taken a bit of heat in the media for his erratic decision-making, has seemed to get things together for the time being, as he hung 342 passing yards and a touchdown on the notoriously-tough Baltimore defense.

The Browns, however, will be facing a much-improved 49ers defense that has paved the way to their winning the first three games of the 2019 season. They also have an issue with injuries, as receiver Jarvis Landry, who torched the Ravens secondary last week, is currently in concussion protocol and is not a guarantee to play Monday night.

Cleveland may have a capable fill-in for Landry, however. Antonio Callaway, who was suspended for the first four games due to a substance abuse violation, will be eligible to play against the 49ers and is likely to be the No. 2 wideout opposite Odell Beckham, Jr. if Landry is not able to play.

Meanwhile, the 49ers need to figure out a replacement for corner Ahkello Witherspoon, who will miss about a month with a foot sprain. And they need to find it fact, if they are going to limit the potent Cleveland offense.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: It’s here, the AL Wild Card game, it’s anyone’s one and done; Raiders hold up for win against Colts; plus more

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mercurynews.com file photo: Oakland Athletics’ Khris Davis (2), right, is mobbed by his teammates after winning the game with a walk-off walk against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, July 28, 2019. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers 6-5.

On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 After a long 162-game regular season, it all boils down to just one playoff game, the American League Wild Card game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Oakland A’s on Wednesday night at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 A’s pitcher Sean Manaea will get the call. He was out most of the season due to arm surgery, but when he returned, he pitched his first two games throwing shutout ball before being lifted. He’s now 4-0.

#3 After taking two tough loses earlier to the Kansas City Chiefs and later to the Minnesota Vikings, the Oakland Raiders faced the Indianapolis Colts and that one turned out to be a squeaker with the Raiders getting by with a seven-point win 31-24.

#4 The 49ers got a bye last Sunday for Week 4. Will having a bye be an advantage for San Francisco or will it be a disadvantage knowing they won’t get much rest between now and the end of the season?

#5 The San Jose Sharks open up their regular season against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Center. With a lot riding on some of the changes, how much pressure will there be on Erik Karlsson. the Sharks’ bonus player, going into the season?

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers look ahead to Browns on Monday Night Football

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On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 The 49ers are coming off a big win over the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-20 at Levi’s Stadium after having a bye last Sunday. How convincing was the win to say that this team can go out and win most of the remainder of their schedule? They have a challenging Cleveland Browns team on Monday Night Football.

#2 San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw 23-32 for 277 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions of those numbers. What sticks out most for Jimmy G?

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Will A’s be one and done again? Can they advance this time after wild card losses last two times?

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On Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Will it be a one and done performance or an advance to the ALDS second round for the Oakland A’s? You’ve seen it before when you went to New York last season the A’s were one and done.

#2 A’s pitcher Sean Manaea he’s 4-0, 1.21 ERA. He was out for most of the season and came back and pitched some shutout ball and was impressive. How does he match up against the Rays?

#3 What kind of sendoff was it last Sunday for the San Francisco Giants’ Bruce Bochy, Pablo Sandoval and Madison Bumgarner. People we won’t see in a Giants uniform again. Maybe Bum.

#4 The Oakland Raiders just got by the Indianapolis Colts, but the win was crucial. The Raiders already have had a couple of tough games, one at home against the Kansas City Chiefs and another on the road to start this six-game out of town schedule with a loss to Minnesota, but they got a big win against the Colts Sunday.

#5 The San Jose Sharks open up their regular season against the Vegas Golden Knights Wednesday night. The Sharks will have their top featured player Erik Karlsson, who signed on for over $90 million for eight years.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s on KIQI 1010 San Francisco and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Ford puts himself through the test, plays through injuries; Garoppolo finds success in last two games

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On the San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami:

#1 49ers defensive end Dee Ford said he played through injuries during the 2018 season in addition to two playoff games.

#2 Ford says that you’d be surprised what NFL players play through during the season.

#3 Ford said he plays through pain “and a lot of stuff” but he toughed it out last season and he’s looking to getting in the line up on Monday Night Football on Oct 7th .

#4 After going 3-0, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been successful hitting receivers and leading SF to those wins.

#5 After Garoppolo’s last two games, it has been some solid performance overshadowing his critics from earlier this season regarding the five pick practice and some tough exhibition games.

Join Joe for the 49ers podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Niners look to keep momentum going after bye week

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By Jeremy Harness

The 49ers are 3-0 for the first time in 21 years, and following the bye week that they are currently on, they hope to keep that streak going against a dangerous – but beatable – opponent.

The Cleveland Browns, who gave the Los Angeles Rams a battle last Sunday night but fell 20-13 when they failed to convert in the red zone in the final minute, will make their way into Levi’s Stadium for a Monday night game on Oct. 7.

The Browns boast a few formidable weapons on offense and an improved defense under coordinator Gregg Williams, but they have been wildly inconsistent this year. They have sandwiched a big win over the New York Jets with the loss to the Rams and a 43-13 beatdown at the hands of the Tennessee Titans.

Cleveland has game-breaking wideouts in Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, Jr. as well as a young quarterback in Baker Mayfield, who does not lack confidence in the slightest case.

However, Mayfield has served as a microcosm of the team as a whole, as a lack of consistency has wreaked havoc on an offense that oozes potential. He has completed 57 percent of his throws this year, to go along with three touchdowns but has also been intercepted five times.

He has struggled in his decision-making at times, and coupled with a 49ers’ pass rush that has set the tone for a defense that has been the key to the team’s 3-0 start, this clearly favors San Francisco.

However, the 49ers have an injury issue that they will need to deal with. Starting corner Ahkello Witherspoon has a foot sprain that is expected to keep him for at least one month, so they will need to find a competent replacement for him in the interim.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Jimmy G converts his throws and gains some yards

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On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers just got by the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 24-20 victory on Sunday. With the win, the 49ers are now 3-0 and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is gaining some of that old swagger back when he first broke in with the 49ers in his first year.

#2 Garoppolo threw for 277 yards and completed 72 percent of his passes. He did suffer two interceptions. Are the interceptions something he should be concerned with since it was a close game and turnovers could hurt a team?

Catch David Zizmor on the 49ers podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast Barbara Mason: Raiders simply got ran over by Vikes’ Cook; Jimmy G puts it together even in close games; plus more

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On Headline Sports podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Minnesota Vikings’ Dalvin Cook, who missed the last two seasons with ACL and hamstring issues, was running for the goal posts against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday when he rushed for 110 yards.

#2 Looking at Cook, you would have never guessed he missed any action after missing two seasons, missing 19 of 34 games. Cook said he never lost any confidence and worked his way back to getting into the Vikings lineups.

#3 The San Francisco 49ers just got by the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 24-20 victory on Sunday. With the win, the 49ers are now 3-0 and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is gaining some of that old swagger back when he first broke in with the 49ers in his first year.

#4 Garoppolo threw for 277 yards and completed 72 percent of his passes. He did suffer two interceptions. Are the interceptions something he should be concerned with since it was a close game and turnovers could hurt a team?

#5 Hard to believe the NBA preseason is starting next week with the new opening of the Chase Center in San Francisco. Will the Golden State Warriors have no trouble adapting to the new building’s characteristics?

Join Barbara for Headline Sports each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com