This could be one ugly football game. I’m just fine with that if it results in a surprising Cleveland victory.

The San Francisco 49ers host the Cleveland Browns this Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 pm and the game will air on CBS.

The Browns will win…

because, in theory, this is actually a pretty decent match-up for Cleveland. The Browns currently have the best pass defense in the NFL, and the fact that San Francisco struggles to move the ball through the air means Cleveland can load the box and force QB Alex Smith to make plays. I absolutely expect Cleveland’s defense to keep the Browns in the game until the last minutes of the fourth quarter. From there, it will be up to either Smith or Colt McCoy to get the job done in the clutch moments of the contest.

The Peyton Hillis Saga could actually benefit the Browns this week. It seems as if the Cleveland coaching staff went into this week expecting Hillis to be sidelined (hamstring/perhaps attitude), and Montario Hardesty has been the number one running back on the team’s depth chart for the last couple of weeks. Truth be told, I’m fine with this. Hardesty is certainly still learning on the job, but he’s progressing nicely.

The “Bye Week Blues” could also help the Browns this weekend. The Niners were one of the hottest teams in football just two weeks ago, having won four straight. During that stretch, San Fran defeated Cincy, the Dream Team-gles, Tampa Bay and the then undefeated Detroit Lions. Week 7 was, on paper, the worst time for an off week for this team.

The 49ers will win…

because the Cleveland Browns have zero offense whatsoever unless an opposing defense goes into prevent. Last Sunday’s 6-3 win over Seattle was quite possibly the worst football game I’ve watched in years, and San Fran’s defense is rested and ready for McCoy and company. Heading into this weekend, San Fran has given up the second fewest points in the league, and the Niners get into the backfield often during games. Poor McCoy, who’s taken quite a bit of hits already this season, may be running for his life throughout Sunday’s game.

Cleveland’s pass defense has undeniably impressed. The Browns are giving up roughly 120 yards on the ground per game, however, and the Niners currently have a top-six rushing attack. This may not lead to the 49ers scoring 30 points, but I certainly wouldn’t expect Cleveland to hold the football for 40 minutes against San Fran. Time of possession could be the most important stat in Sunday’s game, and Cleveland’s inability to move the ball on the ground coupled with a rested Frank Gore taking the field make me very, very nervous.

Prediction

All things equal, the 49ers are simply better than the Browns right now. There’s no way Cleveland fans can spin that. The 9-10 point spreads I’ve been seeing throughout the week seem absolutely ridiculous considering Cleveland’s defense and the fact that San Fran lost a bit of momentum due to the bye week. Still, one touchdown isn’t going to cut it against this Niners team playing at home.

49ers 16

Browns 10

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This could be one ugly football game. I’m just fine with that if it results in a surprising Cleveland victory.

The San Francisco 49ers host the Cleveland Browns this Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 pm and the game will air on CBS.

The Browns will win…

because, in theory, this is actually a pretty decent match-up for Cleveland. The Browns currently have the best pass defense in the NFL, and the fact that San Francisco struggles to move the ball through the air means Cleveland can load the box and force QB Alex Smith to make plays. I absolutely expect Cleveland’s defense to keep the Browns in the game until the last minutes of the fourth quarter. From there, it will be up to either Smith or Colt McCoy to get the job done in the clutch moments of the contest.

The Peyton Hillis Saga could actually benefit the Browns this week. It seems as if the Cleveland coaching staff went into this week expecting Hillis to be sidelined (hamstring/perhaps attitude), and Montario Hardesty has been the number one running back on the team’s depth chart for the last couple of weeks. Truth be told, I’m fine with this. Hardesty is certainly still learning on the job, but he’s progressing nicely.

The “Bye Week Blues” could also help the Browns this weekend. The Niners were one of the hottest teams in football just two weeks ago, having won four straight. During that stretch, San Fran defeated Cincy, the Dream Team-gles, Tampa Bay and the then undefeated Detroit Lions. Week 7 was, on paper, the worst time for an off week for this team.

The 49ers will win…

because the Cleveland Browns have zero offense whatsoever unless an opposing defense goes into prevent. Last Sunday’s 6-3 win over Seattle was quite possibly the worst football game I’ve watched in years, and San Fran’s defense is rested and ready for McCoy and company. Heading into this weekend, San Fran has given up the second fewest points in the league, and the Niners get into the backfield often during games. Poor McCoy, who’s taken quite a bit of hits already this season, may be running for his life throughout Sunday’s game.

Cleveland’s pass defense has undeniably impressed. The Browns are giving up roughly 120 yards on the ground per game, however, and the Niners currently have a top-six rushing attack. This may not lead to the 49ers scoring 30 points, but I certainly wouldn’t expect Cleveland to hold the football for 40 minutes against San Fran. Time of possession could be the most important stat in Sunday’s game, and Cleveland’s inability to move the ball on the ground coupled with a rested Frank Gore taking the field make me very, very nervous.

Prediction

All things equal, the 49ers are simply better than the Browns right now. There’s no way Cleveland fans can spin that. The 9-10 point spreads I’ve been seeing throughout the week seem absolutely ridiculous considering Cleveland’s defense and the fact that San Fran lost a bit of momentum due to the bye week. Still, one touchdown isn’t going to cut it against this Niners team playing at home.

49ers 16

Browns 10

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John Gaudiosi, On Sunday October 23, 2011, 10:42 am EDT

When it comes to sports curses, aside from the Chicago Cubs, there’s no more active superstition than the Madden curse. Since 1999, almost every year something bad has happened to the cover athlete of Electronic Arts’ bestselling Madden NFL franchise. Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis is the latest victim of this curse.

Hillis is the first Madden cover athlete who was voted in by fans through an ESPN cross-promotion with EA Sports. Last year, the running back rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. He came out of nowhere to beat Aaron Rodgers and other NFL superstars. This year, Hillis has been plagued by injuries and surrounded by trade rumors. The running back took flack for sitting out a game for strep throat. And now he’s out with a hamstring injury.

Hillis has also been in the middle of a contract dispute with the Browns. The team offered him a contract extension earlier this year, but Hillis, taking the advice of his agent, walked away. Now with the injuries, conspiracy theorists are having a field day with all of this drama. It’s likely that Hillis will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season, which is shaping up to be a very long one for the Browns (2-3) and their star running back.

After the lockout ended, Hillis told me he was excited to play football again and humbled by the fans selecting him to be on the cover of the new game. He seemed genuine in the interview, but that was before things went bad.

The Madden curse has even spread to runner-up cover athlete Michael Vick, who was already on the cover of Madden NFL 04. The convicted dog killer was part of the so-called Philadelphia Eagles “dream team,” only to get injured in multiple games with a concussion and broken hand. Vick also took a lot of heat from NFL legends and the media for complaining about NFL officiating after getting pummeled by opposing teams’ defenses every game. The dream team is off to a pathetic 2-4 start, as a result.

None of this has had any negative impact on the actual videogame. The new game sold 1.4 million copies in its first week after launching August 30^th and has topped global sales of 2 million to date, according to VGChartz.com.

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees was able to escape the curse last year, playing all season long without any injuries. Perhaps it was the local voodoo combating the videogame curse. Or maybe that was the curse rising in the playoffs to see the Saints lose pathetically to the lowly Seattle Seahawks.

In 2009, EA put two players on the cover of Madden – Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu and Arizona Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald. Polamalu only played five games due to a knee injury, while Fitzgerald escaped the curse with a Pro Bowl season.

In 2008, quarterback Brett Favre was on the cover of the 20^th Anniversary Madden Edition. After coming back from retirement, Favre feuded with the Packers, was traded to the Jets and played horrible losing four of the last five games.

In 2007, quarterback Vince Young managed to play through the season with only one game missed. But after that first playoff appearance, things went downhill for the quarterback.

In 2006, Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander fractured his foot and missed six games.

In 2005, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered a sports hernia in his first game and missed seven games. That year also marked the public feud with Terrell Owens.

ESPN reports that the trade of Jerome Harrison from Detroit to the Philadelphia Eagles may have saved his life.

Why?

Because doctors discovered a brain tumor that nullified a trade with the Detroit Lions, according to two league sources.

Without the deal being made, Harrison would not have undergone a physical. The tumor is now being treated, according to sources.

Harrison is not expected to play again this season, but his long-term prognosis both for life and his football career appear to be good, sources said. He is visiting with more doctors Thursday.

  

CLEVELAND (AP) – Pristine one week, penalized the next.

The second time around was sloppy for the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.

Colt McCoy threw three touchdown passes – two to tight end Evan Moore – in the first half, but the Browns blew a 15-point lead after halftime and lost 30-28 to the Lions on Friday night in a penalty-filled exhibition that showed both teams have plenty to fix in the next three weeks before the season opener.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” McCoy said. “There’s plenty to clean up.”

“Way too sloppy with penalties,” said Lions coach Jim Schwartz.

McCoy finished 10 of 18 for 96 yards, his second straight solid performance running first-year Browns coach Pat Shurmur’s new West Coast offense. McCoy was victimized by a few drops and wasn’t as sharp as in last week’s win over the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. However, the second-year QB showed poise, ran away from Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and didn’t force any throws while playing most of the first half.

“A lot of people wanted to anoint us after last week,” said McCoy, who was pressured and knocked down several times. “There were a lot of rough things here and there.”

The Lions (2-0) trailed 28-13 early in the third but got a 20-yard TD pass from Drew Stanton in the third and Dave Rayner’s 48-yard field goal with 9:51 left.

Referee Mike Carey and his officiating crew had a busy night. The teams were assessed 26 penalties for 211 yards.

Moore caught TDs of 2 and 21 yards, rookie Greg Little grabbed a 13-yarder from McCoy, and rookie Armond Smith had an 81-yard TD run in the third for the Browns (1-1), who were without eight starters, including star running back Peyton Hillis. Smith also had two fumbles, helping the Lions rally.

“We went to getting pretty sloppy,” Shurmur said. “Numerous penalties and two fumbles. Those are killers. The guys in the game are in charge of winning the game.”

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford threw one TD pass to Nate Burleson. Stafford, who threw two TDs in last week’s 34-3 blowout of Cincinnati, went 6 of 10 for 85 yards in four series.

Jason Hanson kicked two field goals for the Lions, who also rested several starters, including wide receiver Calvin Johnson, because of injuries.

“We did a good job considering we had a couple of key guys out,” Stafford said. “The guys who stepped in played well. Our other quarterbacks played well, too.”

McCoy seems perfectly suited for the West Coast attack, an offense that puts a premium on accuracy, timing and precision – by the QB and receivers. Earlier this week, McCoy revealed he spent time during the NFL lockout in Mississippi learning the offense’s many nuances from Brett Favre, who was taught it in Green Bay by Browns president Mike Holmgren.

With the Browns thin at wide receiver, Moore, who showed potential last season but has had injury issues, could become McCoy’s favorite target. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder certainly looks the part, but it remains to be seen if he can handle it. McCoy found him twice in the first half, helping the Browns build a 21-10 lead.

Moore later took a hard hit on a 17-yard reception. He got up slowly and remained in the game. Moore didn’t return to the sideline after halftime, and Shurmur confirmed the fourth-year suffered a head injury.

“I don’t know exactly the final analysis on that,” Shurmur said.

The Browns’ first possession was poor – two dropped passes and a 1-yard run that set the tone for the night. But Cleveland got the ball back when rookie defensive end Jabaal Sheard stripped Lions running back Jahvid Best. McCoy made the Lions pay with his quick TD toss to Moore.

Stafford came back and tied it with his 4-yard strike to Burleson, who made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone and was able to get both feet down. Burleson then mocked Cleveland’s crowd by mimicking the chalk toss that NBA star LeBron James made famous with the Cavaliers.

McCoy’s second TD toss to Moore put the Browns ahead 14-10. After Jordan Norwood’s 20-yard punt return, McCoy lofted a pass into the end zone for Moore, who made a sliding over-the-shoulder catch in the right corner that was first ruled out of bounds. However, the call was overturned by a video replay.

McCoy’s TD pass to Little followed a sequence of five penalties – three by the Browns, two by the Lions – in six plays. It was Little’s first TD in over two years because he had to sit out last season at North Carolina for having improper dealings with an agent, and he celebrated by punting the ball into the stands.

That didn’t please Shurmur, who spoke with the second-round pick on the sideline.

“I told him not to do that,” Shurmur said.

Little seemed to get the message.

“I’m sorry I did it because of the scrutiny that comes after that type of thing,” he said. “I wish I could have it as a souvenir, but some lucky fan has it all his own.”

McCoy also avoided any major contact with Suh, fined $20,000 on Wednesday by the league for a hit on Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton last week. Suh only got his hands on McCoy once, pushing him out of bounds to end a scramble.

“He was definitely feeling pressure in the pocket,” said Lions defensive tackle Corey Williams. “He was kind of moving around, but we weren’t able to get him down.”

Detroit’s offense was missing one of its main cogs as Johnson was a late scratch with a bruised shoulder. A Lions spokesman said Johnson was held out as a precaution.

 (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)