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49ers end season on a quiet note
By Pearl Allison Lo December 30, 2007 |
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Cleveland Browns’ Braylon Edwards’ touchdown reception was the game winner in a San Francisco 49ers loss that typified the majority of San Francisco’s season. The Niners scored once and had only 73 yards passing (185 total) as Cleveland won 20-7 Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium and Nate Clement’s hometown. The Browns assured themselves a playoff spot not only if Indianapolis wins, but if the game results in a tie. Since Cleveland re-entered the NFL, it was their first 10-win season as they got their franchise record seventh home win. Jamal Lewis went over 9,000 yards rushing. SF quarterback Chris Weinke was sacked 4 times and was unsuccessful on a fourth down attempt as he went 13 of 22 for 104 yards and 1 touchdown. The Browns had 18 first downs and was 46% on third down compared to 9 first downs and 28% on third down for the 49ers. Cleveland Josh Cribbs started the scoring off with a 76-yard TD punt return near the end of the first quarter at 1:55 to put the Browns ahead, 7-0. Edwards put them ahead 14-0 with his 45-yard reception at 11:53 in the second quarter. In doing so, Edwards broke Webster Slaughter’s franchise record for receiving yards. Anderson had to come out because of an injury to his hand at 8:44, so Brady Quinn made his first NFL start on the subsequent drive. First, SF’s Darrell Jackson had a 7-yard TD at 3:25 to bring the 49ers within one score near the end of the second quarter, 14-7. Then Quinn brought Cleveland all the way to the end zone but they had to settle for a 23-yard field goal at 1:07. Ironically it seemed to be mainly the receivers’ fault with two end zone passes dropped as the score went ahead 17-7. Anderson returned for the second half and right away, Scribbs ran for another TD but Lennie Friedman was called for holding, nullifying the score. Another pass was dropped in the end zone and had the Browns to settle for another FG. It was blocked however, giving kicker Phil Dawson his second blocked kick of the year. Dawson redeemed himself at 10:23 in the fourth quarter though when he hit a 49-yard FG to make the score a final 20-7. Game notes: 49ers’ Joe Brown was carted off the field...Frank Gore went over 20 carries for the third straight game making SF 11-2 when such a feat occurs…he had 23 carries for 94 yards…Walt Harris had an interception. The 49ers had a longer possession time in the first half but Cleveland ended up with the longer possession time at game end by a little over 3 minutes. Cleveland’s Willie McGinest had 2 sacks. |
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