Browns stun 49ers: 'We're a good football team,' Stefanski says | Jeff Schudel

Oct. 15—It is amazing how the emotion of a city, a sideline, a stadium and a locker room can swing on one play.

The Browns' defense did everything it could to beat the 49ers on Oct. 15, and the offense, led by practice squad quarterback P.J. Walker, did just enough to put Cleveland in position to win. Yet the game came down to the right foot of 49ers kicker Jake Moody with nine seconds to play and the Browns ahead, 19-17.

Moody was a perfect 9-for-9 on field goals for the undefeated 49ers before walking into Cleveland Browns Stadium, but he was wide left from 54 yards in the first quarter and then, with the game on the line, he was wide right from 41 yards in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

"The football gods were on our side," Browns safety Juan Thornhill said in the jubilant locker room.

Losing on the final play after the Browns played as hard as they did against one of the best teams in the league would have been crushing. But they didn't lose, and now they have a right to feel good about themselves. They are 3-2 and in the heat of the AFC North race.

"The football gods were on our side," safety Juan Thornhill said Sunday after the #Browns beat the 49ers, 19-17. 49ers kicker Jake Moody was wide right from 41 yards with 8 seconds remaining. pic.twitter.com/1DOYpoeQ14

— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) October 15, 2023

Six seconds remained when Moody's attempt sailed outside the right upright as the 49ers kicker unbuckled his chinstrap in despair.

The fans, standing to watch the game-deciding kick, erupted in joy. The Browns couldn't contain themselves. They flooded onto the field from the sideline and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct for excessive celebration. On a day when the Browns were flagged 13 times for 119 yards, it was one penalty they could live with.

Kevin Stefanski had plenty of praise to throw around after the #Browns upset the #49ers, 19-17 on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/2COoZBVSa4

— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) October 15, 2023

"Just proud of that team," Coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Just proud of the fight. We knew what we were in for. We knew the challenge. I told you guys all week; we knew how good that team is. I got a ton of respect for Coach (Kyle) Shanahan, all his coaches. That's a good football team. And the truth is, we're a good football team. We're not perfect. We know that. But we fought like crazy today,"

Things were working against the Browns. They were without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder injury) for a second straight game. All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio could not play because of a knee injury, and Nick Chubb is out for the season with a knee injury.

The 49ers averaged 33.4 points a game on their way to a 5-0 start. They destroyed the Cowboys, 42-10, last week. Their quarterback, Brock Purdy, was 10-0 as a starter going back to last season and he threw nine touchdowns without an interception this season before facing the Browns.

But Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was 7-1 when facing Shanahan in various capacities since 2008. Make that 8-1.

"He's been doing it for a long time," Shanahan said after the game. "Very sound. They know how to get the right people."

The Niners were held to 215 yards of total offense. Purdy was 12 of 27 for 125 yards. He threw one touchdown pass and one interception. He was sacked three times.

Schwartz did not like the way the defense played in the 28-3 loss to the Ravens on Oct. 1, and he vowed his unit would be better. The Niners had to finish the game without stars Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffery because of injury. After the first San Francisco drive that resulted in a touchdown, and until the 49ers moved from their own 25 into position to attempt the game-winning field goal, the Browns defense was in control.

"We knew we had the right game plan for this," Thornhill said. "We knew we were going to shut those guys down.

"They like to motion, get your eyes in different places. Coach Schwartz made it simple. We weren't chasing a lot. We were literally sitting there bumping every motion, playing man to man, having good eyes."

The Browns rediscovered their run offense. Jerome Ford led the way with 84 yards. The Browns finished with 160 yards on 34 carries.

Walker threw two interceptions and nearly gave the game away before Dustin Hopkins kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:40 left to move the Browns in front, 19-17. Walker made "a terrible mistake," a "stupid decision" — his words — when he rolled to his right and threw a pass in the end zone that was nearly intercepted but fell incomplete.

Earlier in the drive resulting in Hopkins' fourth field goal, a third-and-10 pass from the Browns' 26 with 2:45 left was incomplete. But former Browns safety Tashaun Gipson was called for unnecessary roughness on a defenseless receiver. The call could have gone either way. It went the Browns' way.

Thornhill was right. The football gods were smiling on the Browns. The Browns earned their good fortune.