Browns stun 49ers 19-17, hand San Francisco its first loss and QB Brock Purdy his first as starter

CLEVELAND (AP) — From dominant to defeated — in lower than per week. The San Francisco 49ers have been reminded there aren’t any good groups or givens within the NFL.

Brock Purdy suffered his first loss as a starter and the Niners had their regular-season profitable streak stopped at 15 when rookie kicker Jake Moody missed a 41-yard subject aim with six seconds remaining, giving the Cleveland Browns an surprising 19-17 win on Sunday.

“I don’t assume we deserved to win,” stated 49ers star defensive finish Nick Bosa. “We didn’t underestimate them, however they did play higher than us. We haven’t misplaced in a very long time within the common season, so it hurts much more.”

Dustin Hopkins kicked 4 subject objectives for the Browns (3-2) — the final with 1:40 left, capping a drive helped by a disputed pointless roughness name towards San Francisco. Cleveland pulled off the upset with out quarterback Deshaun Watson, who missed his second straight recreation with a bruised proper shoulder.

The 49ers (5-1) got here in trying almost unbeatable after destroying Dallas 42-10 at house final week and scoring at the very least 30 factors in every of their first 5 video games.

However Cleveland’s top-ranked protection was greater than as much as the duty, and the 49ers have been short-handed within the second half with out playmakers Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel, who each went out with accidents.

P.J. Walker got here off Cleveland’s apply squad and outplayed Purdy, who threw his first interception this season, completed with simply 125 yards and almost pulled off a stirring comeback within the remaining moments earlier than Moody’s failed kick.

The 23-year-old Purdy had been good in his professional profession, profitable his first 10 regular-season begins and coming in with the very best passer score (121.1) in league historical past for any quarteback by way of 10 video games.

However the Browns stored him off steadiness and he accomplished simply 12 of 27 passes (44%) — nicely beneath his league-leading common (72.1%) coming in.

“I didn’t play at the usual that I wanted to,” Purdy stated. “We really feel like we failed our personal expectations. I simply need to be higher and make the throws. Man, it’s the NFL. Whenever you get alternatives, you’ve obtained to deal with them. There are performs that we didn’t make.”

Regardless of being with out McCaffrey and Samuel, Purdy made a pair large throws on San Francisco’s remaining drive and positioned the ball in the course of the sphere for Moody, who pushed his try to the precise.

“It’s on me,” stated Moody, who missed a 54-yard within the first half. “I’ve obtained to make these kicks in these conditions. That’s what I signed up for at my place. The staff fought actually arduous to present me an opportunity.

“It was an ideal snap, good maintain. I simply didn’t hit it the best way I needed to.”

When the ball sailed into the web, Cleveland’s sideline erupted in celebration and Browns followers danced within the aisles after seeing the house staff lastly catch a couple of breaks.

‘”The reality is, we’re a great soccer staff,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski stated. “We’re not good, we all know that. However we fought like loopy, and I’m simply pleased with so many guys.”

The 49ers have been heavy favorites firstly of the week, and their odds solely grew when the Browns dominated out Watson on Friday.

They turned to Walker, who was solely signed in August, and the 28-year-old confirmed poise on Cleveland’s remaining drive — and obtained away with a questionable throw into the top zone — to arrange Hopkins for the winner.

The Browns have been additionally helped with a roughness name on 49ers security Tashaun Gipson Sr., who spent 4 seasons with Cleveland. On Third-and-10, Walker’s throw for Elijah Moore was excessive however Gipson was known as for the non-public foul for main along with his helmet.

“My view was his intent wasn’t in any respect to try this,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan stated. “It appeared just like the receiver was coming in there, leaping, too. It appeared like they touched helmets from the place I used to be. It didn’t look that violent.”

Purdy was out of sync a lot of the afternoon, and issues obtained even more durable for the second-year QB when Samuel went out with a shoulder harm and McCaffrey couldn’t push by way of an indirect challenge.

On the street for the primary time in 4 weeks, the 49ers started mixing it up with the Browns about half-hour earlier than the opening kick.

Tempers flared throughout warmups with a short skirmish on the 49ers sideline. There was numerous trash discuss and San Francisco left sort out Trent Williams shoved Moore from the aspect and knocked his helmet off.

Helped by two private fouls towards the Browns, the 49ers scored on their first possession with Purdy shoveling a brief move to McCaffrey, who made two fast cuts obtained to the skin and went in untouched.

SCORING STREAK

McCaffrey’s landing prolonged his streak of scoring to fifteen straight video games, two shy of the NFL file held by Corridor of Famer Lenny Moore.

McCaffrey is tied with John Riggins and O.J. Simpson for second place.

INJURIES

49ers: Samuel spent an prolonged interval within the medical tent earlier than going to the locker room. He spent the second half on the sideline in road garments. … McCaffrey tried twice to come back again in earlier than being dominated out. Coach

Browns: LB Anthony Walker sustained a concussion and didn’t play within the second half.

UP NEXT

49ers: At Minnesota on Oct. 23.

Browns: At Indianapolis on Oct. 22.

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