San Francisco 49ers vs. Cleveland Browns: 2023 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-15, the Cleveland Browns took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 19–17 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Walker (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -15.43 total EPA, and -11.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Jennings (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +2.07 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-52.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (:09) 4-J.Moody 41 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky. PENALTY on CLE, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at CLE 31.

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 J. Jennings · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.07 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Hunt · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.97 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
3. 3 R. McCloud · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +1.77 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Goodwin · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +1.56 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.56 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Hunt · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.91 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Purdy · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +0.85 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Cooper · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.72 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Juszczyk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +0.53 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.53 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 — C. McCaffrey (B. Purdy pass) (Q1 57:23)
• Cleveland Browns — K. Hunt (Q2 35:43)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Mason (Q4 11:04)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — J. Moody (Q2 37:57)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q3 26:13)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q3 18:03)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q4 3:26)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q4 1:43)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q4 1:40)

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 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the CLE 13 (Q1 57:23) — (12:23) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 23-C.McCaffrey for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 57:16) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

The second quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the CLE 7 (Q2 37:57) — (7:57) 4-J.Moody 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the SF 16 (Q2 35:43) — (5:43) Direct snap to 88-H.Bryant. 27-K.Hunt left tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 35:38) — 7-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 6–0. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the SF 24 (Q3 26:13) — (11:13) 7-D.Hopkins 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the SF 27 (Q3 18:03) — (3:03) 7-D.Hopkins 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 9–7. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the CLE 8 (Q4 11:04) — (11:04) 24-J.Mason left tackle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q4 10:58) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the SF 32 (Q4 3:26) — (3:26) 7-D.Hopkins 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the SF 11 (Q4 1:43) — (1:43) 7-D.Hopkins 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the CLE 35 (Q4 1:40) — 7-D.Hopkins kicks 65 yards from CLE 35 to end zone, Touchback..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 0:09) — (:09) 4-J.Moody 41 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky. PENALTY on CLE, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at CLE 31. [WPA -52.1% · EPA -2.50]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 11:13) — (11:13) (Shotgun) 10-P.Walker pass short left intended for 2-A.Cooper INTERCEPTED by 2-D.Lenoir (99-J.Kinlaw) at CLE 36. 2-D.Lenoir pushed ob at CLE 8 for 28 yards (71-J.Wills). [WPA -25.8% · EPA -5.10]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 4:10) — (4:10) (Shotgun) 10-P.Walker sacked at SF 32 for -11 yards (97-N.Bosa). [WPA -22.4% · EPA -1.80]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 53:55) — (8:55) (Shotgun) 10-P.Walker pass short right intended for 18-Dav.Bell INTERCEPTED by 54-F.Warner at SF 42. 54-F.Warner to CLE 26 for 32 yards (10-P.Walker). [WPA -15.4% · EPA -7.38]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 1:27) — (1:27) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 11-B.Aiyuk to CLE 43 for 25 yards (26-R.McLeod). [WPA +14.1% · EPA +1.09]

Impact plays

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q1 53:55) — (8:55) (Shotgun) 10-P.Walker pass short right intended for 18-Dav.Bell INTERCEPTED by 54-F.Warner at SF 42. 54-F.Warner to CLE 26 for 32 yards (10-P.Walker). [WPA -15.4% · EPA -7.38]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 11:13) — (11:13) (Shotgun) 10-P.Walker pass short left intended for 2-A.Cooper INTERCEPTED by 2-D.Lenoir (99-J.Kinlaw) at CLE 36. 2-D.Lenoir pushed ob at CLE 8 for 28 yards (71-J.Wills). [WPA -25.8% · EPA -5.10]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 25:17) — (10:17) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass deep left intended for 11-B.Aiyuk INTERCEPTED by 23-M.Emerson at CLE 48. 23-M.Emerson to SF 38 for 14 yards (64-J.Brendel). [WPA -8.4% · EPA -3.78]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 37:45) — (7:45) (Shotgun) 10-P.Walker pass deep left to 2-A.Cooper to SF 25 for 58 yards (48-O.Burks). [WPA +10.4% · EPA +3.75]

Quarterback report card

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

• P.Walker (Cleveland Browns) · 41 dropbacks · 43.9% completion · -11.4% CPOE · -0.38 EPA/play · -15.43 total EPA
• B.Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) · 35 dropbacks · 34.3% completion · -14.0% CPOE · -0.25 EPA/play · -8.87 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (San Francisco 49ers -0.19, Cleveland Browns -0.15) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Cleveland Browns: 13 drives, -14.15 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 13 drives, -16.00 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Cleveland Browns leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Jennings (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Walker (CLE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• B. Purdy (SF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 57:23 · CLE 13 · Score 6-0
   (12:23) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 23-C.McCaffrey for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 57:16 · CLE 15 · Score 7-0
   4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
3. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 37:57 · CLE 7 · Score 10-0
   (7:57) 4-J.Moody 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
4. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 35:43 · SF 16 · Score 10-6
   (5:43) Direct snap to 88-H.Bryant. 27-K.Hunt left tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q2 35:38 · SF 15 · Score 10-7
   7-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
6. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q3 26:13 · SF 24 · Score 10-10
   (11:13) 7-D.Hopkins 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
7. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q3 18:03 · SF 27 · Score 10-13
   (3:03) 7-D.Hopkins 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
8. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 11:04 · CLE 8 · Score 16-13
   (11:04) 24-J.Mason left tackle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 10:58 · CLE 15 · Score 17-13
   4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
10. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 3:26 · SF 32 · Score 17-16
    (3:26) 7-D.Hopkins 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
11. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 1:43 · SF 11 · Score 17-19
    (1:43) 7-D.Hopkins 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
12. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 1:40 · CLE 35 · Score 17-19
    7-D.Hopkins kicks 65 yards from CLE 35 to end zone, Touchback.