49ers score early and stop the Browns from responding
A big return set up San Francisco for its first score. As soon as Skyy Moore caught the ball, he had to shake off two Browns defenders before he had only P Corey Bojorquez in front of him. Bojorquez tried to bring him down but was pushed away. TE Blake Whiteheart was initially shaken off but was the one to tackle him at the Browns’ 16-yard line.
The Browns nearly turned the red zone start for the 49ers into a field goal, but a 12-yard gain from McCaffrey on third-and-8 set San Francisco up at the 2-yard line. Cleveland stuffed the 49ers on first and second down, but McCaffrey pushed through the Browns’ defense on third down to score and gave San Francisco a 7-0 lead with 8:12 left in the first quarter.
Cleveland used Judkins to gain 20 yards on the first two plays from scrimmage to reach midfield. Sanders and Larvadain connected for 10 yards on first down to keep the chains moving. The 49ers’ defense stood their ground thereafter, making the Browns earn yards and forcing a third-and-8. RB Jerome Ford bodied his way into a 9-yard catch and a first down. Judkins ran the next three plays for 9 yards, setting up a fourth-and-1 at the 49ers’ 20-yard line. San Francisco pushed through the Browns’ offensive line and stopped Judkins in the backfield, forcing a turnover on downs.