Browns defense takes the fight to 49ers

CLEVELAND — The Browns took the fight to the 49ers before the game even began, and they never let up. They got in a skirmish with the 49ers on the field in pregame, and they refused to back down all game, even though they were heading into a David and Goliath matchup. They beat the previously undefeated 49ers to improve to 3-2 coming out of their bye. It was wild fight to the finish, with 49ers rookie kicker Jake Moody pushing a 41-yard field goal wide right in the game's final seconds. The 49ers were 5-0 and widely regarded as the best team in the NFL. They had won 15 straight regular-season games dating back to last season, and had just clobbered the Cowboys, 42-10, on Sunday night football. "I don't pay much attention to what the outside feels about a game," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said after the win. "I know the team we have. I felt good about this one. .... Again, like I told the team all week, we're not perfect, but we're going to fight like crazy, and we did that today." The Browns (3-2) started their third-string quarterback in P.J. Walker, who was signed Aug. 30 and called up from the practice squad on Saturday afternoon to replace the injured Deshaun Watson. He threw two costly interceptions but the Browns overcame them. He went 18 of 34 for 192 yards with two interceptions for a 45.2 rating. Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz ran his remarkable record to 8-1 over 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan's offenses over the years. Trailing 19-17, the 49ers took over at their 25 with 1:40 to play and marched downfield to the 23, where rookie Moody lined up and pushed the 41-yard field goal wide right with six seconds left. Earlier in the game, he pushed a 54-yarder wide left. Trailing 17-16, the Browns took over at their 26 with 2:56 remaining, and pushed for a go-ahead field goal. Former Browns safety Tashaun Gipson was flagged 15 yards to move the Browns to their 41 for hitting Elijah Moore when he was defenseless. Two plays later, the 49ers were flagged for defensive holding on Amari Cooper. Two plays after that, Jerome Ford ripped off a 22-yard run to the 49ers 14. Dustin Hopkins easily made the 29-yard field goal with 1:40 left to put the Browns ahead for the second time, 19-17. Hopkins had kicked a 50-yard field goal to pull the Browns to within 17-16 with 3:21 left, and also made kicks of 42 and 46 yards. He missed a 49-yarder. The 49ers took over their 25 with all three timeouts left and 3:21 remaining — leading to the drive that resulted in Moody's missed kick. The Browns not only were without Watson, but also injured guard Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio, who was ruled out before the game. They still found a way to hand 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy his first regular-season loss as a starting NFL quarterback after 10 straight wins. By the second half, the 49ers were without both receiver Deebo Samuel (shoulder) and running back Christian McCaffrey (oblique), and they were overmatched by the Browns' relentless defense without their two multi-purpose weapons. Walker, who came into the game with a 4-3 record as a starting NFL quarterback, was called up from the practice squad on Saturday afternoon to replace Deshaun Watson (bruised right shoulder). He got the nod over rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson because of his experience. But with 11:04 left the game and the Browns clinging to their 13-10 lead, Walker was picked off for the second time in the game — and this time the defense couldn't hold. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir picked off a pass intended for Amari Cooper, and returned it 28 yards to the Browns' 8. This time, the defense couldn't heed Schwartz's plea to stiffen when the offense falters, even inside the 10. Jordan Mason scooted in 8 yards on the left side for a TD to put the 49ers back on top again, 17-13, with 10:58 left in the game. After a second straight three-and-out for the Browns' defense in the third quarter, Hopkins booted a 46-yard field goal to put the Browns up 13-10 with 2:59 left in the period. It marked their first lead of the game — and the first time the 49ers had trailed in the second half all season. They were the only NFL team that hadn't trailed in the second half all season. The Browns came out in the second half and took it to the 49ers on their opening drive, with Hopkins capping a nine-play drive with a 42-yard field goal that tied it at 10 with 11:09 left. For the second time in the game, thekey play on the drive was a huge catch by Amari Cooper, this one a 27-yarder on a third and 7 into Niners territory. David Njoku caught a 10-yarder to the 28, and Hopkins drew the teams even. With the Browns' defense playing lights out, cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. leaped and plucked a pass intended for Brandon Aiyuk out of the air, and returned it 13 yards. Unfortunately for the Browns, they were unable to cash in on the pick — the first of Emerson's career and the first of the season for Purdy. But the defense responded again, forcing a three and out on the 49ers next drive. The Browns went to the locker room trailing only 10-7 after overcoming plenty of adversity in the first half, including having a 32-yard touchdown pass to Njoku wiped off the board by a Wyatt Teller holding call. The TD would've tied the score at 7. A few plays later, Hopkins sailed a 47-yard field goal attempt wide left to keep the 49ers ahead 7-0 with 3:51 left in the first. With 7:54 left in the half, Moody made a 25-yard field goal to put the Niners up 10-0, but the fact the Browns held them to a field goal there was key. It didn't help the 49ers that they lost all-purpose weapon Deebo Samuel to a shoulder injury in the first half. But then the Browns stormed back with a TD drive that silenced the Stefanski playcalling critics — at least for a few minutes. After Nick Bosa swatted a Walker pass on first down, he shook it off and found Cooper open down the left side for a 58-yard strike to the 49ers' 25. Two plays later, tight end Harrison Bryant took a direct snap and pitched it left to Hunt, who zoomed up the left side for a 16-yard TD to pull the Browns to within 10-7 with 5:38 left in the half. Purdy took over at the 49ers' 25 with a chance to increase their lead, but the defense showed a ton of spunk once again, forcing the 49ers to punt after they marched to the Browns' 45. On third and 15, Purdy was sacked for a 6-yard loss, bringing out the punter. It prevented the 49ers from increasing their lead just before the break. The Browns had a chance to do the same, but started at their 9 and advanced only to the 22 before punter Cory Bojorquez boomed a 69-yarder to ensure that the 49ers weren't going anywhere. The Browns lost their cool on the opening drive to move the chains for the 49ers. Greg Newsome II committed a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call against McCaffrey, shoving him hard to the ground when he was already out of bounds. Za'Darius Smith followed with a 15-yard facemask against McCaffrey to the Browns' 14. Two plays later, Purdy flipped a shovel pass to McCaffrey, and he scooted 13 yards up the left side for the touchdown. Walker took over for the first time at his 25, and had the Browns in 49ers territory in five plays. But he was picked off by Fred Warner on a short pass to the right intended for David Bell, and Warner ran it back 32 yards to the Browns' 26. The Browns learned their lesson from the last game, their 28-3 loss to the Ravens. Schwartz blasted his defense for allowing Lamar Jackson to score on a 10-yard run on the play after Dorian Thompson-Robinson's pick, and hammered the point home in his weekly press conference on Thursday. His defense understood the assignment. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah crushed McCaffrey for an 8-yard loss on the first play to set the tone, waving his arms wildly to fire up the crowd. 49ers tight end George Kittle was flagged for a false start to move them back to the 39, and Samuel gained only 3 yards on a third-down run. Kicker Jake Moody lined up for the 54-yard field goal, and pushed it wide left. Mission accomplished for Schwartz and his crew after a shaky start.