CLEVELAND — Isn't football a beautiful game?
No one gave the Browns a chance Sunday against San Francisco. Even if Deshaun Watson and Joel Bitonio had been healthy, beating the 5-0 49ers would've been a tall task, so even staying in today's game could've been seen as a moral victory.
They certainly earned a moral victory. In fact, they got a real one, too.
In one of the most shocking NFL upsets in recent memory, the shorthanded Browns beat the Niners 19-17 behind a stellar defensive performance and four field goals by Dustin Hopkins. Jake Moody's attempt to win the game from 41 yards out sailed wide right with six seconds left, sealing Cleveland's triumph.
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As has been the case seemingly all year, the defense was the star of the show, holding San Fran to a mere 215 yards of total offense. Quarterback Brock Purdy struggled, in particular, completing just 12 of 27 passes for 125 yards with a touchdown and an interception while also being sacked three times.
This followed a particularly rough start by Jim Schwartz's unit, which allowed the Niners to go 84 yards down the field on an opening drive that ended with a Christian McCaffrey touchdown. However, both McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel would eventually have to leave with injuries, leaving the San Francisco offense stymied much of the afternoon.
But while the Browns had a 334-215 overall yardage edge, they were down 10-0 at one point and found themselves playing from behind most of the game. This was partly thanks to mistakes from third-string starting QB P.J. Walker, who posted a dismal 45.2 passer rating with a pair of INTs.
The last of those two picks could've been a backbreaker, as with Cleveland up 13-10 early in the fourth quarter, Deommodore Lenoir took the ball away and ran it to the Browns 8-yard line. Just one play later, Jordan Mason scored on a rushing TD, putting the 49ers back ahead 17-13.
Cleveland then kept the ball for the next 7 1/2 minutes, but the offense stalled, and Hopkins was forced to kick a 50-yard field goal on fourth-and-21 to cut the deficit to 17-16. Thankfully, they got yet another defensive stop, and Walker had a chance to redeem himself with less than three minutes to go.
Though Walker did not complete a pass on the final drive, the Browns were aided by two controversial Niner penalties that got them to the edge of field goal range. A 22-yard run by Jerome Ford followed, and after a Walker pass into double coverage was nearly intercepted, Hopkins instead took matters into his own hands with a 29-yard kick to give Cleveland the lead again.
San Fran had one last chance with 1:40 left and a timeout, and it appeared they would escape with a victory after a Martin Emerson Jr. penalty and a catch-and-run by Brandon Aiyuk helped give Moody an opportunity to kick for the win. However, his try sliced to the right, and the Browns were able to kneel on the ball as the fans erupted in jubilation.
For the first time since Nick Chubb's season-ending injury, the Browns' running game rose to the moment, tallying 160 yards on 34 carries including a touchdown by Kareem Hunt. Amari Cooper also hauled in four catches for a game-high 108 yards.
There was one part of the game both head coaches surely won't be happy about: penalties. There were a combined 25 flags for 224 yards, including 13 for 119 on the Cleveland side.
Still, with all the trials and tribulations, the Browns are 3-2 and firmly in the playoff race following their first win over a 5-0 team since 1969. They'll look to ride the positive momentum next Sunday, when they head to Indianapolis to face the 3-3 Colts. Deshaun Watson's status is still up in the air for that game.