Monday night offered the 49ers an opportunity at a statement win, and they took advantage.
San Francisco absolutely dominated the Browns, outgaining them 446-180 en route to a 31-3 win that goes a long way to silencing critics that believed coach Kyle Shanahan’s team was undefeated only due to its weak schedule.
The 49ers scored on their first play from scrimmage and had more first downs via passing (11) and running (10) than Cleveland had altogether (9). They forced four turnovers and sacked quarterback Baker Mayfield four times.
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Led by running back Matt Breida’s 114 yards on the ground, San Francisco’s rushing attack was relentless. Breida went 83 yards to the house on the first play of the first drive, and Tevin Coleman came up just shy of 100 yards on his 16 carries.
Quarterback Jimmy Garppolo completed 20 of his 29 pass attempts, tossing a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions.
The offense could afford to coast some after the first quarter, though, because the defense was staunch.
The 49ers’ front seven wreaked havoc all night, harrassing Mayfield and containing a ground game that was coming off a breakout performance against the Ravens. Mayfield finished an abysmal 8-for-22 for 100 yards and two interceptions, in addition to fumbling once. Running back Nick Chubb had 87 yards on 16 carries but wasn’t consistent enough to power the offense by himself.
That leaves the Browns at a frustrating 2-3 record and little to hang their hat on than outside their win over Baltimore. This was their second blowout loss, having suffered a 43-13 loss to the Titans to begin a season that looks increasingly unlikely to live up to lofty expectations.
For the 49ers, though, Monday was a night of validation, showing they are capable of beating dangerous teams — or at least capable of destroying a mediocre one.
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Sporting News was tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Browns vs. 49ers. Follow along as it unfolded in real time below (all times Eastern).
Browns vs. 49ers live score, updates, highlights
FINAL: 49ers 31, Browns: 3
11:00 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, 49ers. Gould hits a 44-yarder, improving his bad day. Mayfield will not be on the field for the ensuing Browns drive, because this game is over. 49ers 31, Browns 3.
10:54 p.m.: Beckham tries to make something out of nothing on a punt return, and he does just that for the 49ers, who force a fumble and recover it deep in Browns territory.
10:50 p.m.: Cleveland is being outgained 411-176. This is ugly.
End third quarter: 49ers 28, Browns 3
10:32 p.m.: The Browns block a 32-yard field goal from Gould. San Francisco has missed three field goal attempts.
10:05 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ers. San Francisco scores on the opening drive of the second half. That was a pass-heavy drive, and it ends with a 22-yard catch from Greg Kittle. This is getting away from Cleveland. 49ers 28, Browns 3.
Halftime: 49ers 21, Browns 3
9:41 p.m.: Gould misses from 52 yards with 10 seconds left in the half. There were issues with the hold on that one.
9:33 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ers. San Francisco cashes in on the turnover. Tevin Coleman scampers in from 19 yards out to give the home team an 18-point advantage. 49ers 21, Browns 3.
9:24 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, 49ers. On third-and-goal from the 6, Mayfield’s pass for wide receiver Antonio Callaway is a bit low, and Callaway juggles it into the hands of cornerback K’Waun Williams. Williams returns it to midfield. Huge swing.
9:06 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, Browns. Cleveland was inside the 10, but a 5-yard loss on first-and-goal doomed the drive to a short field goal. 49ers 14, Browns 3.
End first quarter: 49ers 14, Browns 0
8:56 p.m.: A holding penalty pushes the 49ers back, and kicker Robbie Gould misses a 47-yard field goal. Cleveland doesn’t pay for the fumble.
8:53 p.m.: FUMBLE, Browns. The 49ers have been harrassing Mayfield early and often, and he loses the ball while scrambling to avoid pressure. San Francisco has the ball inside the Browns’ 30.
8:44 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ers. After the teams trade three-and-outs, San Francisco goes 74 yards in under four minutes, capped by a 5-yard catch by Breida. 49ers 14, Browns 0.
8:27 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, 49ers. Mayfield is hit as he throws, and Richard Sherman is there to pick off the underthrown ball. Huge plays coming in quick succession early, as that was the first play of the drive.
8:24 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, 49ers. Well then. Matt Breida goes 83 yards untouched on San Francisco’s first play. 49ers 7, Browns 0.
8:19 p.m.: We start with a bang, as Odell Beckham hits Jarvis Landry for a 20-yard pass on a trick play on the first play from scrimmage.