CLEVELAND — One week after a dominating performance, Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers appeared as though they were going to escape Cleveland with a win and keep their regular season winning streak alive.
But kicker Jake Moody's 41-yard field goal sailed wide-right, sending Cleveland fans into a frenzy, as the Browns shocked 49ers with a 19-17 wi on Sunday.
“I don’t think we deserved to win," said 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa. "We didn’t underestimate them, but they did play better than us. We haven’t lost in a long time in the regular season, so it hurts a lot more.”
Purdy, who out of sync most of the afternoon, suffered his first loss as a starter and the loss snapped San Francisco's 15-game regular season winning streak. Purdy finished the afternoon 12 of 27 and throwing for just 125 yards and a touchdown.
Much of the reason Purdy was out of sync had to do with Cleveland’s top-ranked defense, who was more than up to the task. The Browns sacked him three times and force the San Francisco quarterback to throw his first interception of the season.
Another reason for the 49ers offensive woes, was when both playmakers Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel left the game with injuries, leaving them short-handed in the second half.
Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made four field goals on the day — including his last one from 29-yards with 1:40 left, capping a drive helped by a disputed unnecessary roughness call against San Francisco.
The Browns were helped on the game-clinching drive with a roughness call on 49ers safety Tashaun Gipson Sr., who spent four seasons with Cleveland. On 3rd-and-10, Walker's throw for Elijah Moore was high but Gipson was called for the personal foul for leading with his helmet.
Despite being without McCaffrey and Samuel, Purdy made a couple big throws on San Francisco's final drive and positioned the ball in the middle of the field for Moody, who pushed the kick to the right.
Cleveland (3-2) pulled off the upset without quarterback Deshaun Watson, who missed his second straight game with a bruised right shoulder. Backup P.J. Walker was called up off the Browns practice squad and completed 18 of 34 passes for 192 yards.
Cleveland will be at Indianapolis on Oct. 22.
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