Shedeur Sanders seeks to make history with a 2-0 start to his Browns career

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Four downs on Browns (3-8) v. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)

First down: Shedeur, 2.0.

Shedeur Sanders passed his first test. The next one is tougher. Yes, he’ll have an adoring home crowd supporting him. Now, after a second week in a row of practice reps with all the starters, new challenges await. A cold, wet and windy day off Lake Erie. A sterner opponent with a full game sample of Sanders to study and game plan for. The possibility of playing from behind. Nothing will come as easily for Sanders as it did in Las Vegas against a Raiders team in disarray. But if Sanders can meet the challenges and emerge victorious against a 49ers team stalking the NFC playoffs, he would be the first Browns quarterback to win his first two NFL starts since Otto Graham in 1946. A few months ago, a more-playful Sanders might have responded differently to the possibility in front of him. But now that he’s in the seat of his team’s starting quarterback, Sanders sounded, well, professional when this historical opportunity was posed to him. “I always wish the best, you know, and I do everything I can for this team and for everybody,” Sanders said. “But I got a great defense, got a great team, got great receivers. So, I’m just thankful.”

Second down: Man on a mission.

At this point, the question isn’t if Myles Garrett can break the official NFL single-season sack record. It’s by how much. Does he just eclipse the 22.5 sacks mark first set in 2001 by Michael Strahan in 16 games and then matched in 2021 by T.J. Watt in 17? Or does he shatter it? Can he actually reach 30 sacks, a figure so outrageous it has never been postulated until now? (A deserving shout-out here to Al “Bubba” Baker, who has been credited by historian fact-checkers with 23 sacks playing for  the Detroit Lions in 1978 – four years before the NFL recognized sacks as an official statistic.) Garrett has 18 sacks with six games to go to surpass 22.5. “I don’t even think about it as a want,” he said. “I just think about something that I’m going to knock down. It’s already been written in my mind that it’s going. Just how far I’m going to take it. So, just going to go out there and do what I do, and whatever number I end up at.” One obstacle in Garrett’s way on Sunday is Trent Williams, San Francisco’s superlative, if aging, left tackle. “That’s Hall of Fame versus Hall of Fame right there,” said Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. “That’s the NFL marquee matchup right there.” Before departing for Cleveland, Williams was asked if he’d lost any sleep thinking about the matchup against Garrett. “Not yet, but I’m sure I will,” he said. He quickly added, “Naw, I lied … yeah, I have.”

Third down: Chess masters.

The Jim Schwartz v. Kyle Shanahan storyline is unavoidable and undeniable. They have met nine times since 2008 as coordinators or head coaches. Schwartz’s teams hold an 8-1 advantage over Shanahan’s teams. What’s truly remarkable is that Schwartz’s dominance in this rivalry covers a total of 10 teams between them. During the rivalry, Schwartz has held the positions of defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, head coach of the Detroit Lions, defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills, defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles and defensive coordinator of the Browns. Shanahan has held the positions of offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans, offensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins, offensive coordinator of the Browns, offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons and head coach of the 49ers. The only time Shanahan triumphed over Schwartz was a 13-12 Texans victory over the Titans in 2008 – the second meeting of the rivalry. “I know this – this is always one of my hardest weeks of preparation because, I mean, Kyle’s one of the best in the business and has been for a long time,” Schwartz said. Earlier in the week, Shanahan was asked if he has ever said to Schwartz, “You are a pain in the ass”? He answered without hesitation, “Oh yeah, definitely. He knows it. He lets me know, too. But, I’ve got a lot of respect for Jim. I think he's one of the best who does it. He's done it for a while.”

Fourth down: Run CMC.

49ers running back extraordinaire Christian McCaffrey stands out as the best offensive player in this game. He is the central focus of Shanahan’s offense and the No. 1 concern of Schwartz’s defense. A dual threat runner and receiver in the mold of former 49ers back Roger Craig, McCaffrey ranks first in the NFL in rushing attempts (217), 10^th in rushing yards (796), ninth in rushing TDs (seven), second in receptions (81), 11^th in receiving yards (785) and 18^th in receiving TDs (five). Overall, McCaffrey is first in yards from scrimmage (1,581) and tied for third in total TDs (12). The 2023 NFL rushing champion is on pace for 115 receptions. “There’s a lot of things that Christian does that reminds me of my old days here with the Browns with Eric Metcalf. Very similar,” Schwartz said. “And I’d say probably McCaffrey has a little more inside run ability. Both of them are really talented in the passing game, both talented on the perimeter. McCaffrey can also run inside and run with power.” On top of everything, McCaffrey, 5-11 and 210 pounds, leads the NFL in making tacklers miss. Kevin Stefanski explained, “[He has] incredible contact balance, incredible ability to make the first man miss. Can cut on a dime, runs with power. Has a great feel for space, and where he is, and where the defenders are and where his blockers are.”

The pick: 49ers 13, Browns 9.

My record: 6-5.