Dawgs By Nature
Before the game started, I said this would shape up to be a low-scoring, even match-up, unless something unforeseen like more special teams blunders cost the Browns. Sure enough, they reared their ugly head again, with a long punt return setting up San Francisco’s only first half touchdown, and a miscue killing a drive in the second half. Layering on to that, a muffed punt right after that punt the 49ers in scoring range. Despite some drives by Cleveland and an ok effort by Shedeur Sanders, the Browns only came away with one score in a 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Let’s get to the full game recap.
The 49ers received the opening kickoff and began with a playaction fake that was tossed to FB Kyle Juszczyk for a gain of 23 yards. They tried playaction again on the next two plays, to little success, setting up a 3rd-and-9 from midfield. QB Brock Purdy stayed in the pocket this time, but didn’t find anyone open and had to throw the ball into the dirt, leading to a punt.
WR Gage Larvadain fair caught the ball at the 13 yard line, where QB Shedeur Sanders came on in front of the home crowd. Sanders started with a 7-yard completion to WR Jerry Jeudy on the sideline. A run by RB Quinshon Judkins moved the chains, and then a few plays later, Cleveland had a 3rd-and-5 situation. Sanders had time, and saw Jeudy breaking out deep, but the throw was a tad overthrown, forcing a punt.
Unfortunately, the Browns’ special teams unit had a breakdown on the punt coverage, as WR Skyy Moore found a lane for 66 yards before being taken down by TE Blake Whiteheart at the 16 yard line. RB Christian McCaffrey tried to throw the ball, but no one was open and he tossed it away. On 3rd-and-8, the Browns left him uncovered, though, as Purdy found McCaffrey wide open for a gain of 12 yards down to the 2 yard line.
Two plays later, the Browns’ defense faced a 3rd-and-goal from the 1 yard line after an incomplete pass and one run for a yard gain. On third down, Purdy handed it off to McCaffrey for the touchdown to give San Francisco a 7-0 lead with 8:12 left in the first quarter.
The Browns began with Judkins, first with 7 yards on the ground and then 13 yards on a screen pass. That was followed by a 10-yard pass to Larvadain into San Francisco territory at their 40 yard line. A few plays later, on 3rd-and-8, RB Jerome Ford came in and caught the screen pass, getting just enough for the first down. After three runs, the Browns faced a 4th-and-1 at the 20 yard line and decided to go for it. They gave it to Judkins again, but multiple defenders shot through on the backside to stuff him for a loss of a yard and a turnover...
