You can expect running back Frank Gore to get a lot of touches on Sunday, when the San Francisco 49ers host the Cleveland Browns. Gore has three consecutive 100-yard rushing games and is eyeing another one. More than just helping the team win and get the offense going, Gore is hoping to hit the 110-yard mark and pass Roger Craig as the team's second all-time leading rusher. If he passed him, he'd be behind only Joe Perry.
His last performances were efforts of 127, 126 and 141 yards, after starting the season with three games of less than 60 yards apiece. You can expect a heavy dosage of Gore on Sunday, especially because of the nature of Cleveland's defense. It has been their strong suit, and has kept them in games, but the rush defense has left something to be desired. Their defense even won them a game - last week's 6-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
But their strength is the pass defense, led by cornerback Joe Haden, and the 49ers aren't likely to put the game in Alex Smith's hands. It will definitely fall to Frank Gore to run the ball early and often, and Kendall Hunter will be the guy to back him up. There's reports that Haden is still a little sore, so maybe the 49ers will challenge him with Braylon Edwards potentially returning, but this will definitely be the Frank Gore show.
The Browns have allowed rushers of 121 yards (Cedric Benson), 95 yards (Daniel Thomas), 101 yards (Chris Johnson) and 91 yards (Darren McFadden). That 110 yardage mark is certainly within reach for Gore. Joe Perry has the franchise record with 7,344 yards, and Gore currently sits at 6,955.