49ers Lost to the Browns Thanks Largely to Questionable Penalty That Had NFL Fans Fuming

San Francisco suffered its first loss of the season on Sunday.

The 49ers lost their first game of the season Sunday to the Browns after rookie kicker Jake Moody missed a last-second field goal attempt.

However, fans were more upset about a penalty that was called on the 49ers a few minutes before the field goal attempt. With just under three minutes left in the game, 49ers safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. was flagged for unnecessary roughness after tackling Browns receiver Elijah Moore on third down. Most fans believed this was a clean play, though.

Because of the penalty called on Gipson, the Browns earned a new set of downs. Two plays later, cornerback 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward was flagged for defensive holding, giving the Browns another automatic first down. Cleveland went and scored a field goal on this drive, which put the team in the lead at 19–17.

Then there was the missed kick. 

NFL fans were still hung up on the penalty drawn on Gipson, though, and partially blamed this for the 49ers’ first loss of the season. Take a look at some of the social media reaction.