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Week 17 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 7, Cleveland Browns 20
What you need to know
| San Francisco 49ers |
The San Francisco 49ers lost their final game of the 2007 season largely due to a non-existent pass offense and a rush defense that could not contain the Cleveland Browns. Chris Weinke, called out of semi-retirement two weeks ago, started for the 49ers becoming the fourth different quarterback for the 49ers this season. Weinke was not able to do much against the Browns as the 49ers chose to run the ball with Frank Gore for most of the game. Weinke finished the game going 13 for 22 with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Frank Gore was the main source of offense for the 49ers, carrying the ball 23 times for 94 yards but he did not score a touchdown. The 49ers primary receivers, Arnaz Battle, Vernon Davis and Darrell Jackson all struggled to get into any kind of rhythm with Weinke, and as a result all of their numbers suffered.
The San Francisco rushing defense failed to contain the Cleveland rushing attack, giving up multiple yards after contact to Jamal Lewis. While the 49ers pass defense did hold the Cleveland passing game to under 300 yards of offense, the impact of the Browns rushing and special teams more than made up for the slow-down in the passing game.
| Cleveland Browns |
The Cleveland Browns won their tenth and final game of the season by rushing the ball all over the field against the San Francisco 49ers. Jamal Lewis was one of the bright spots in the game for Cleveland, rushing 26 times for 128 yards and no touchdowns. With Lewis being so productive, Derek Anderson and the high flying Cleveland passing game were largely quiet. Anderson finished the day going 11 for 20 for 152 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow led the receiving corps catching 67 and 62 yards respectively. Edwards was the only Browns receiver with a touchdown catch.
The Browns did get a scare with Derek Anderson being taken to the locker room in the second quarter for x-rays on his hand. This allowed Brady Quinn to enter his first professional regular season game, and his performance was solid. The same could not be said for the Browns rushing defense as they once again struggled to contain an opponent's rushing attack. Frank Gore was able to rush for 94 yards, and really gave the Browns problems all game long.
What you ought to know
| QB Chris Weinke, Pass: 13 - 22 - 104 - 1 TD / 0 INT |
Weinke was simply asked to manage the game for the 49ers. Most of his throws were short throws into the flat. For the majority of the game, the 49ers chose to run the ball with Frank Gore and attack the vulnerable Cleveland rush defense. On the few deeps throws that he did attempt, Weinke was just a step too slow for his receivers, missing Darrell Jackson on an out pattern in the second quarter and a wide open Maurice Hicks in the end zone in the first quarter.
| RB Frank Gore, Rush: 23 - 94 - 0, Rec: 2 - 21 - 0 (3 targets) |
Gore was the focus of the San Francisco offense effectively mixing runs both up the middle and to either sideline. The lack of any major passing threat for the 49ers did hurt Gore as the Browns were able to stack seven and eight men in the box to blitz on rushing plays. While he did see some action in the passing game, it was only as a last second target for Weinke.
| WR Arnaz Battle, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (5 targets) |
Battle, much like most of the San Francisco receiving corps, suffered from an inexperienced quarterback in Chris Weinke. He finished the day with three catches for 19 yards, and was largely a non-issue in the game.
| WR Darrell Jackson, Rec: 3 - 28 - 1 (6 targets) |
Jackson was able to catch a touchdown in the game as he broke away from Leigh Bodden on a nice corner route. Outside of the touchdown catch, Jackson had a quiet day, being targeted but struggling to get into any kind of rhythm with Chris Weinke. Jackson finished the game with three catches for 28 yards.
| TE Vernon Davis, Rec: 2 - 20 - 0 (3 targets) |
Davis role was minimal in the game as he only finished with two catches for 20 yards.
| PK Joe Nedney 0 - 0 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 1 points |
Nedney's only action was to kick an extra point on the lone 49ers touchdown.
| SF Rush Defense |
The 49ers really struggled to contain Jamal Lewis for the entire game. The Browns offensive line was able to generate a very good push on the defense, opening multiple holes for Lewis. Even with the blitz pressure that San Francisco brought in the second half, the 49ers struggled to keep the Browns rushing attack from pounding away with four and five yard gains.
| SF Pass Defense |
The 49ers pass defense had its ups and downs, helping stall a Cleveland drive on the five yard line in the second quarter, while giving up a big 45 yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. The Browns choice was to attack with the rush and as such the 49ers pass defense did not see the usual high flying Cleveland pass attack.
| QB Derek Anderson, Pass: 11 - 20 - 152 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
Anderson and the Browns stuck to a more conservative gameplan, preferring to rush the ball and use up the clock with Jamal Lewis. He managed to connect with Braylon Edwards on a very nice 45 yard touchdown pass in the first half. On the play, Edwards was able to break away from Nate Clemens and Anderson hit him in stride, after looking off the safety on the opposite side of the field. The play was particularly nice as Anderson did not stare down Edwards for the length of the pattern and only looked Edwards' way at the last possible moment. He was injured in the second quarter after hitting his throwing hand on the helmet of a defender. After being taken to the locker room for X-rays on his pinky finger and wrist, he was given the green light to return to the game when the X-rays came back negative. Upon returning, Anderson still appeared to have the same zip on the ball but the Browns remained committed to the run.
| QB Brady Quinn, Pass: 3 - 8 - 45 - 0 TD / 0 INT |
Quinn played one series for the Browns, going three for eight for 45 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He would have had a touchdown pass had Kellen Winslow been able to hold onto an absolute bullet that Quinn threw over the center of the field. Overall, Quinn looked very good in his pass attempts, working through some progressions and hitting his receivers in stride.
| RB Jamal Lewis, Rush: 26 - 128 - 0, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (1 targets) |
Lewis was asked to simply pound the ball all game long, a task for which he was well-suited. The Browns ran Lewis right into the middle of the 49ers defense for the entire game. Lewis' longest run was 23 yards, but it wasn't so much one play as it was the whole of his body of work that defined his role in this game. He was nothing less than a battering ram that simply wore down the defense with his punishing rushing style.
| RB Jason Wright, Rec: 3 - 36 - 0 (5 targets) |
Wright continued his role as a third down, change of pace back. He was used primarily as a flat receiver on third downs, able to catch and run better than Lewis. He finished the day with three catches for 36 yards.
| WR Braylon Edwards, Rec: 3 - 67 - 1 (8 targets) |
Edwards' best play of the day was his 45 yard touchdown catch. On the play he made a very nice fake toward the middle of the field, a fake that Nate Clemens bought. This allowed Edwards to break deep down the field, with Anderson hitting him in stride for the score. Both Quinn and Anderson looked to Edwards side of the field first on almost every passing play.
| WR Joe Jurevicius, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (2 targets) |
Jurevicius was a non-factor in the game but his only catch of the game was notable as it was Brady Quinn's first completion as a professional. Jurevicius finished the game with 12 yards on one catch.
| TE Kellen Winslow Jr, Rec: 4 - 62 - 0 (9 targets) |
Winslow could have had a big game had he not dropped a Brady Quinn pass in the middle of the endzone. The play was a designed pass over the center of the field, but due to the defensive traffic in the area, Quinn was forced to throw a bullet at Winslow. The pass hit Winslow in the numbers, but he bobbled and eventually lost the pass. Winslow was also targeted in the end zone in the first quarter, a pass that was ultimately intercepted. He also had a big role blocking for Jamal Lewis, as he was often out in front of the runs toward the sideline.
| PK Phil Dawson 2 - 3 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points |
Dawson had a good afternoon going two for two on field goals with a long of 49 yards. He did have a short 25 yard chip shot blocked by Nate Clements in the third quarter.
| CLE Rush Defense |
Once again, the Browns rush defense struggled to contain an opponent, this time it was Frank Gore. Gore had success running right up the middle of the field as the Browns were simply unable to plug the holes the 49er offensive line was opening. The Browns did have some success stacking seven and eight into the box and bringing a cornerback off on a blitz, but it did leave them vulnerable in pass coverage routes.
| CLE Pass Defense |
The Browns pass defense benefited from the inexperience of Chris Weinke and the commitment of the 49ers to rush the ball for most of the game. The Browns were able to sack Weinke five times, as he struggled to either find an open man or needed the time to get through his progressions. But it was the lack of any kind of rhythm and timing between Weinke and his receivers, more than any improved pass defense from the Browns, that helped nullify the 49ers pass defense.
