Cleveland Browns vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2011 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-10-30, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 20–10 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. McCoy (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -2.76 total EPA, and +3.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.41 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-13.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (14:23) 12-C.McCoy sacked at CLE 16 for -5 yards (55-A.Brooks). FUMBLES (55-A.Brooks), RECOVERED by SF-90-I.Sopoaga at CLE 20. 90-I.Sopoaga to CLE 20 for no gain (55-A.Mack). C.McCoy charged with sack

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +6.41 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Cribbs · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +5.45 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.82 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Watson · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +5.30 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.77 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Smith · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.53 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.53 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Norwood · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.51 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +2.33 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
7. 7 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.20 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
8. 8 C. McCoy · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +2.02 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• San Francisco 49ers — F. Gore (Q1 57:49)
• San Francisco 49ers — M. Crabtree (Q2 31:34)
• Cleveland Browns — J. Cribbs (C. McCoy pass) (Q4 6:23)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q1 47:59)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q2 30:02)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q4 2:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 10–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the CLE 4 (Q1 57:49); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q1 57:44) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CLE 11 (Q1 47:59) — (2:59) 2-D.Akers 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–3. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the CLE 2 (Q2 31:34) — (1:34) 11-Alex Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q2 31:31) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the SF 33 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 4-P.Dawson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-7-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–3. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the SF 45 (Q4 6:23); Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 6:17) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-7-B.Maynard.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CLE 8 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 2-D.Akers 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cleveland Browns (Q1 59:23) — (14:23) 12-C.McCoy sacked at CLE 16 for -5 yards (55-A.Brooks). FUMBLES (55-A.Brooks), RECOVERED by SF-90-I.Sopoaga at CLE 20. 90-I.Sopoaga to CLE 20 for no gain (55-A.Mack). C.McCoy charged with sack [WPA -13.2% · EPA -4.20]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 44:28) — (14:28) (Shotgun) 11-Alex Smith pass short middle to 85-V.Davis to SF 37 for 19 yards (20-M.Adams). Caught at SF 28. 9-yds YAC. [WPA +5.0% · EPA +2.46]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 6:23) — (6:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass deep left to 16-J.Cribbs for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 20 20 yds YAC. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play [WPA +4.9% · EPA +4.37]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 5:30) — (5:30) 21-F.Gore left tackle to SF 32 for 6 yards (71-A.Rubin). [WPA +4.7% · EPA +0.25]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 19:32) — (4:32) 12-C.McCoy pass deep left intended for 15-G.Little INTERCEPTED by 38-D.Goldson at SF -7. Touchback. [WPA -4.5% · EPA -3.72]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cleveland Browns (Q4 6:23) — (6:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass deep left to 16-J.Cribbs for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 20 20 yds YAC. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play [WPA +4.9% · EPA +4.37]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 59:23) — (14:23) 12-C.McCoy sacked at CLE 16 for -5 yards (55-A.Brooks). FUMBLES (55-A.Brooks), RECOVERED by SF-90-I.Sopoaga at CLE 20. 90-I.Sopoaga to CLE 20 for no gain (55-A.Mack). C.McCoy charged with sack [WPA -13.2% · EPA -4.20]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 25:07) — (10:07) (Shotgun) 11-Alex Smith pass deep left to 15-M.Crabtree ran ob at CLE 44 for 41 yards. Caught at SF 45. 11-yds YAC. [WPA +3.5% · EPA +3.97]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 19:32) — (4:32) 12-C.McCoy pass deep left intended for 15-G.Little INTERCEPTED by 38-D.Goldson at SF -7. Touchback. [WPA -4.5% · EPA -3.72]

Quarterback report card

C.McCoy led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.McCoy (Cleveland Browns) · 43 dropbacks · 51.2% completion · +3.6% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -2.76 total EPA
• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 28 dropbacks · 53.6% completion · -0.6% CPOE · +0.23 EPA/play · +6.41 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

San Francisco 49ers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.08 vs -0.05), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 11 drives, -3.58 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 10 drives, +6.53 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. McCoy (CLE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 57:49 · CLE 4 · Score 0-6
   (12:49) 75-A.Boone and 90-I.Sopoaga reported in as eligible. 21-F.Gore right tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on CLE, Defensive 12 On-field, declined.
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 57:44 · CLE 2 · Score 0-7
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 47:59 · CLE 11 · Score 0-10
   (2:59) 2-D.Akers 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 31:34 · CLE 2 · Score 0-16
   (1:34) 11-Alex Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 31:31 · CLE 2 · Score 0-17
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · SF 33 · Score 3-17
   (:02) 4-P.Dawson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-7-B.Maynard.
7. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 6:23 · SF 45 · Score 9-17
   (6:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass deep left to 16-J.Cribbs for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 20 20 yds YAC. The Replay Assistant challenged the ru
8. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 6:17 · SF 2 · Score 10-17
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-7-B.Maynard.
9. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · CLE 8 · Score 10-20
   (2:00) 2-D.Akers 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.