LIVE UPDATES: Browns Defense Stuns 49ers, Cleveland Wins 19-17

Welcome to our live blog as the Cleveland Browns host the San Francisco 49ers. We'll keep you updated on all the news and views from the game in real time, with some highlights and opinion tossed in.

CLEVELAND, Ohio. — The Cleveland Browns have arguably their biggest test of the season on Sunday afternoon, as the San Francisco 49ers come to town on a chilly, breezy (and possibly wet) fall afternoon. 

The Browns headlines all week long have surrounded who isn't playing in this game, which has been particularly frustrating for fans. Most notably, Deshaun Watson is out with a shoulder injury. 

The team elevated PJ Walker from the practice squad to start Sunday's tilt against one of the most well-rounded, tough teams in the league. After Dorian Thompson-Robinson started last week's game, Walker's emersion as this week's starter makes him the 36th different quarterback to start a game for the Browns since 1999. It's also the 10th time the franchise has needed three different signal callers in a single season.

It's been a long time since the 49ers have won in Cleveland, since they don't make many trips to northeast Ohio. Jim Schwartz also has an pretty impressive history against Kyle Shanahan. We'll see which team - and which players - step up and make big plays this afternoon. Cleveland is 2-2 as they come off the bye week, while the 49ers sit at 5-0 and might be the best team in the NFL. They dominated Dallas last week.

Welcome to our live updates blog of the game, where I will keep you updated in real time with all the latest news and info this afternoon. I'll also toss in a few highlights and opinions along the way.

I'll circulate the latest information towards the top so that this post moves in reverse chronological order.

Enjoy the game:

4:32 p.m. - After starting the drive with two straight incompletions, San Francisco picked up a first down on a defensive pass interference call, then hit a couple of good plays to work the clock. Ultimately, the drove down to the Cleveland 23 and Jake Moody had a chance to win the game with a 40-yard field goal to give San Francisco the lead with 6 seconds remaining, but he missed it wide right. Cleveland kneels out the clock and wins the game, 19-17

4:20 p.m. - Cleveland takes the lead on its third field goal of the second half, but Browns fans are FUMING angry at the play-call on second down that preserved a San Francisco timeout (not to mention it was nearly an interception). Dustin Hopkins makes it Browns 19, 49ers 17.

4:14 p.m. - The Browns are driving and are in prime position to pull off an upset. At the 2-minute warning, Cleveland has it first and 10 on San Francisco's 14-yard line. Two defensive penalties kept the drive alive when it looked like the Browns weren't going to be able to pull it off.

4:08 p.m. - Cleveland's defense did it's job and got the ball back, all without having to burn a timeout. No the offense goes to work with about three minutes to play.

4:02 p.m. - Cleveland's longest drive of the game stalls after 14 plays. Dustin Hopkins settles for a 50-yard field goal to make it a 1-point game. Nick Bosa's big third down sack was ultimately the biggest play of the drive. 49ers 17, Browns 16

3:57 p.m. - The Browns are on the move. They converted a fourth and 4 with a nice throw to David Bell, who made a huge grab for just his fourth catch of the year. PJ Walker then fired a rocket to Amari Cooper to grab another 13 yards down to the SF 21 with 5:30 to play.

3:45 p.m. - For as well as the Browns were playing the entire second half, it all came unraveled in about 3 minutes. PJ Walker throws a costly interception up the left sideline as Deommodore Lenoir stepped in front of Amari Cooper. He returned it 28 yards down to the Cleveland 8 yard line. One player later, Jordan Mason ran left and dove across the goalline for a go-ahead touchdown. 49ers 17, Browns 13.

3:31 p.m. - Cleveland forces a punt and takes the ball back. Remarkably, through their first three series, San Francisco has -12 yards of total offense in the second half. Some of that is due to Deebo Samuel's injured shoulder and Christian McCaffrey's injured oblique. McCaffrey is now back in the locker room.

3:21 p.m. - The Browns take their first lead of the game. Dustin Hopkins connects from 46 yards away as he drills one throw the uprights in the west end zone. It's the first time the 49ers have trailed in the second half of a game all year, and their first deficit at any point since Week 2. Browns 13, 49ers 10

3:16 p.m. - This is turning into a serious defensive showdown. Both offenses went backwards in quick 3-and-outs. The Browns get it back on their own 45-yard line with 5:47 left in the third quarter.

3:03 p.m. - Brock Purdy finally blinked. His first career interception comes on his 150th pass as he misfires to Brandon Aiyuk and Martin Emerson picks it off. Even prior to the INT, Purdy looked a bit rattled to start the second half. The Browns take over at the SF 38-yard line. First Energy Stadium is rockin'!

2:58 p.m. - The Browns opened the second half with the ball and marched 48 yards down the field in 9 plays, capping it off with a 42-yard field goal to tie the game. But the highlight of the drive was a sensational leaping, toe-tap grab by Amari Cooper. San Francisco won't have Deebo Samuel for the rest of the game either, he's out with a shoulder injury. Browns 10, 49ers 10

2:40 p.m. - The last 30 minutes of real time have ultimately resulted in nothing on the scoreboard, nor any major plays. But this continues to be a really wild, unusual game. The rain played a major factor as the first half concluded, with Brock Purdy slipping on a couple throws and PJ Walker nearly fumbling (he was lucky to have an intentional grounding call not overturned by replay). San Francisco forced a Cleveland punt after both offenses sputtered, and the Niners kneeled out the clock. Halftime, with the Browns still trailing 10-7.

2:09 p.m. - Finally something explosive play for the Brown offense. Amari Cooper torched Deommodore Lenoir up the left sideline, PJ Walker tossed one perfectly in stride and Cooper surged for 58 yards to put Cleveland in great shape. A couple plays later, Browns tight end Harrison Bryant went under center as the QB and Kevin Stefanski's offense looked like they would try to sneak for a yard on 3rd and 1. Instead, Bryant pitched out a toss sweep to Kareem Hunt, who raced 16 yard untouched into the end zone. Game on. 49ers 10, Browns 7.

2:01 p.m. - San Francisco drives up the field, largely on the shoulders of McCaffrey. He has to be the hardest guy to tackle in the entire league. The Browns defense tightened up late in the drive and the 49ers settled for a 25-yard field goal. The drive lasted 11 plays, traveled 76 yards and killed 6:27 of the second quarter clock. 49ers 10, Browns 0.

1:49 p.m. - The first quarter is over, and it wasn't the prettiest football. A couple challenges, a few frustrating calls, a couple injuries and a negated Browns touchdown. 49ers 7, Browns 0

1:37 p.m. - Potentially a tough loss for San Francisco. On the first play of the ensuing drive, left tackle Trent Williams got his right leg rolled up on and he immediately grabbed at his right knee. Williams is one of the greatest right tackles in NFL history and is the anchor to San Francisco's offensive line. Hopefully he's okay, you never want to see guys get hurt. Jalen Moore is taking his place. Deebo Samuel also left the field and is being evaluated for a shoulder injury.

1:33 p.m. - Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins misses wide left from 47 yards away. Cleveland can't get out of its own way right now. San Francisco takes the ball with 3:51 to go in the first quarter.

1:26 p.m. - Another tough mistake for Cleveland. After Marquise Goodwin ran for 20 yards to put Cleveland in a great scoring position, Walker dunked down a little screen pass to David Njoku which he ran 32 yards for a touchdown. But the play was negated by a holding call on Wyatt Teller.

1:21 p.m. - Browns dodged a bullet. Jake Moody misses his first field goal attempt of the season. The defense stepped up big after the interception and the game remains a 1-score affair as Cleveland takes it back from the 44 yard line. Meanwhile, the skies have opened up and the rain is coming down steadily.

1:17 p.m. - After a few promising plays on their opening drive, Walker was a bit late throwing a ball toward David Bell and Fred Warner picked it off. He returned it 32 yards to the Browns 26-yard line. A brutal start for Cleveland, as San Francisco takes over with 8:46 left in the first quarter.

1:09 p.m. - That didn't take long. The 49ers are among the best in the league at starting with a score, and they went down the field 84 yards in five plays, capped by Christian McCaffrey scoring on a shovel pass from 13 yards out. It's the 15th straight game that CMC has scored a touchdown, which is the second longest streak in league history. 49ers 7, Browns 0

1:02 p.m. - Browns win the toss and defer their choice to the second half. Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense will take the field first.

12:25 p.m. - Things are getting heated pregame. Juan Thornhill, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams seemed to be right in the middle of the scuffle. I get the impression the Browns are tired of hearing the national conversation this week of how San Francisco is going to come in and smoke them this week.

FIGHT!
49ers Browns pregame pic.twitter.com/WR2x75CD16

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 15, 2023

12:15 p.m. - PJ Walker is warming up for arguably the biggest opportunity of his life. Walker's strengths are his mobility, his experience, arm strength and his quick release. He needs to find a way to get in a rhythm early on, something that will also fall on Kevin Stefanski's shoulders from a play-calling perspective.

💪 @pjwalker_5 💪 pic.twitter.com/nbkvl3Jou1

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 15, 2023

11:35 a.m. - San Francisco has the following players inactive today: Dre Greenlaw, Brayden Willis, Ty Davis-Price, Jalen Graham, Kalia Davis, Matt Pryor and Brandon Allen.

11:30 a.m. - The Browns inactives today are quarterback Deshaun Watson, wide receiver Cedric Tillman, cornerback Kahlef Hailassie, safety Ronnie Hickman, defensive end Isaiah McGuire, defensive tackle Siaki Ika, guard Joel Bitonio. On the positive side, David Njoku and Ethan Pocic are ACTIVE.