CLEVELAND – Win No. 9 within the 49ers’ seemingly playoff-bound season got here in 26-8 vogue Sunday. Nevertheless it wasn’t wanting too safe till a third-quarter swing.
The 49ers clung to a 10-8 lead when, effectively, let’s hear from referee Brad Allen.
“Boom, this way!” Allen shouted on a dwell mic as 49ers linebacker Luke Gifford recovered the Browns’ fourth-and-1 snap, which was botched by Harrold Fannin on the Cleveland 33-yard line.
What ensued was a 2-yard landing run by Brock Purdy, then a 7-yard landing go from Purdy to Jauan Jennings, with Matt Homosexual tacking on a 31-yard discipline aim within the ultimate minutes.
These 16 unanswered factors after halftime allowed the 49ers (9-4) to cruise to a 3rd straight win, their longest streak since a 3-0 begin to the season.
The Browns (3-9) fell within the first house begin for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who gained his debut final Sunday in Las Vegas; Cleveland hasn’t gained back-to-back video games since 2023.
The 49ers’ protection and particular groups got here via with loads of highlights, too, within the group’s coldest sport this season: 35 levels at kickoff with a wind chill of 8 levels amid 24-mph winds.
The 49ers now enter their long-awaited bye week, the most recent ever in an NFL common season; additionally idle would be the New England Patriots, the Carolina Panthers, and the New York Giants. No practices are anticipated as 49ers gamers seemingly will likely be excused after Tuesday’s energy and conditioning.
Purdy got here alive late within the first half, completed with simply 168 passing yards, dedicated no turnovers, and acquired sacked simply as soon as, when Myles Garrett notched his NFL-leading nineteenth sack.
About 1 ½ minutes earlier than the fourth quarter, Purdy put the 49ers forward 17-8 with a 2-yard, third-and-goal landing run, with Garrett biting on Purdy’s faux handoff to Christian McCaffrey. Purdy stored that drive alive with a 14-yard, third-down completion to George Kittle on the 4-yard line, however solely after McCaffrey earlier transformed a third-and-2 run.
Even after Purdy acquired sacked by Garrett to pressure a punt, the Browns muffed it and Darrell Luter Jr. recovered for the 49ers on the Browns’ 18-yard line. That led to Jennings’ signature third-down landing catch.
Homosexual’s discipline aim with 4 minutes left capped the 49ers’ scoring spree, which he truly started simply earlier than halftime when he banked in a 25-yard discipline aim for a 10-8 lead. That end-of-half scoring drive got here to life thanks on Purdy completions to Ricky Pearsall (13 yards), Jennings (12) and Kittle (33 yards, on the 7-yard line).
The Browns had pulled forward 8-7 when, after 9 consecutive runs to midfield, Sanders floated a 34-yard landing go to Fannin, who slipped previous Gifford then beat Renardo Inexperienced and Ji’Ayir Brown to the aim line. One other 49ers’ gaffe — 12-men-on-the-field for a point-after kick — prompted the Browns to go for a two-point conversion that Quinshon Judkins scored off a direct snap for an 8-7 lead, 39 seconds earlier than halftime.
The 49ers improved to 8-0 when main at halftime.
McCaffrey put the 49ers forward 7-0 with a 1-yard landing run halfway via the primary quarter, capitalizing on Skyy Moore’s career-long 66-yard punt return to the Browns’ 16-yard line. After throwing away an possibility go on second down, McCaffrey had a 12-yard catch to the 2-yard line, then finally punched in his eighth dashing landing in eight video games (after none within the first 4 video games). McCaffrey discovered a scoring lane between left guard Spencer Burford and middle Jake Brendel.
McCaffrey completed with 53 yards on 20 carries, and 21 yards on 4 receptions.
On the damage entrance, the 49ers’ casualties included fullback Kyle Juszczyk (ribs), linebacker Nick Martin (concussion) and left guard Ben Bartch (foot). Juszczcyk, who notched his three hundredth profession reception on the sport’s first snap, was reported injured early within the fourth quarter. Martin sustained a first-half concussion on a fourth-down cease, and Bartch was misplaced to a foot damage late within the third quarter; Bartch had rotated with Spencer Burford for 4 video games since coming off Injured Reserve.
The Browns dominated out proper sort out Jack Conklin at halftime with a concussion, then defensive sort out Maliek Collins (a 2024 49er) acquired carted off early within the third quarter with a knee damage.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s unit seemed susceptible to display passes and runs up the center early within the sport. However a slew of highlights offset these Browns yards.
Setting the tone, late within the first quarter, was security Malik Mustapha combining with ex-Browns defensive sort out Jordan Elliott to stuff Judkins for a 1-yard loss on that fourth-and-1 run from the 20.
The 49ers’ first of three sacks on Sanders got here early within the second quarter, however solely after coach Kyle Shanahan nullified a third-down cease to just accept an illegal-shift penalty on the Browns to arrange third-and-15. That led to Clelin Ferrell’s sack of Sanders at midfield.
Ferrell later notched a second sack, and Keion White recorded his first full sack with the 49ers.
Sanders’ first house drive because the Browns’ beginning quarterback ended with him overthrowing Jerry Jeudy, who was open previous Brown some 35 yards downfield. Sanders’ ultimate snap: a 6-yard run earlier than he slid down in 49ers’ territory, on a fourth-and-26 play.
Sanders completed 16-of-25 for 149 yards with the one landing and no turnovers.
Mac Jones completed issues off for the 49ers, taking a knee and cueing a Kendrick Bourne backflip within the victory formation.
