NFL Week 13 live score updates: Inactives, standings, playoff race, predictions, odds, latest
In most places, the home team offense being introduced just ahead of the game is standard operating procedure.
In Cleveland, it happening today marks a significant change and tells the story of the day: Shedeur Sanders is making his first home start vs. the 49ers and will be greeted with cheers.
Both last year with Deshaun Watson and earlier this season with Dillon Gabriel as the starting quarterback, the team either introduced the defense or passed on individual introductions to avoid the starting quarterback getting booed. The carousel started spinning again earlier this month with Sanders becoming the 42nd starting quarterback of the franchise’s post-1999 era. Sanders didn’t have to do much in winning his first start last week over the hapless Raiders, though he did introduce a vertical element to the offense in a 24-10 win that really was carried by the run game and the defense.
With winds gusting above 40 MPH today, the pass game may again take a back seat to the Quinshon Judkins-led run game. Though rain and snow that have been in the area since last Wednesday appeared to have passed, the wind is forecast to be upwards of 25 MPH consistently with gusts as high as 45 MPH. The Browns installed a wildcat run package for Judkins before a windy October game vs. the Dolphins, and Judkins scored twice in the jumbo wildcat package last week. So expect to see it again; the Browns have.a 75 percent success rate on Judkins wildcat plays this season, per TruMedia, and an overall offensive success rate for the season of 33.9 percent, lowest in the league.
For the 3-8 Browns to pull the upset, the Myles Garrett-led defense will have to deliver one of its best performances. That defense is capable and was especially dominant last week, posting 10 sacks vs. the Raiders. Garrett has 18 sacks on the season and considers it a foregone conclusion that he’ll break the NFL’s single-season record of 22.5. Though he has a five-sack game this season and has 13 over his last four games, he draws a tough matchup today vs. 49ers left tackle Trent Williams, a three-time All-Pro.
As usual, the 49ers’ offense will feed Christian McCaffrey as many touches as possible. The Browns want to contain McCaffrey and force Brock Purdy into as many must-pass situations as possible. Look for Purdy to throw a bunch of quick swing passes and screens to McCaffrey and for the 49ers to introduce jet sweeps and other misdirection plays to keep the Browns honest and try to keep Garrett from wrecking the game plan.
The Browns don’t have any surprise inactives. They already had ruled out defensive end Alex Wright (quad), backup defensive tackle Adin Huntington (quad) and backup tight end Brenden Bates (back).
