The San Francisco 49ers lost to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon, a result that might go down as the biggest upset of the 2023 NFL season.
Given that the Browns were missing starting quarterback Deshaun Watson, the defeat was all the more stunning. P.J. Walker, a veteran backup who had just been added to the active roster on Saturday, was starting.
However, the 49ers rookie kicker Jake Moody missed a potential game-winning 41-yard field goal in the closing seconds, allowing the Browns to prevail 19-17 in a defensive struggle. Brock Purdy suffered his first regular-season defeat on Sunday, and San Francisco began its first regular season since October 23 of last year.
Purdy and the 49ers were the brunt of jokes on social media after losing to a team with a backup quarterback:
Leave it to the 49ers to choke their undefeated streak away against Cleveland and their 3rd string QB
— PensInsider (@ThePensInsider) October 15, 2023
Did not foresee the #Browns taking down an undefeated team with a backup QB but here we are. Very solid win. https://t.co/rpNUm1vDAl
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 15, 2023
49ers are frauds
— g (@gracephully) October 15, 2023
Losing to PJ Walker with the best roster in the NFL. Apparently little adversity can make Purdy look like a backup.
— Jurgen Meyer (@Jurgen_Meyer) October 15, 2023
Good job 49ers you lost to Cleveland, Cleveland… I called that choke
— twizted one (@TwiztedMulisha) October 15, 2023
What a choke job by the 49ers. Some terrible calls kept the Browns alive, but still had every chance to win it and handed the game away.
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) October 15, 2023
same week folks started using “MVP” for brock purdy he got outdueled by PJ walker you just hate to see it
— shea (@sheanorling) October 15, 2023
Didn’t I tell y’all Brock Purdy was overrated?
— Trell (@__Trell87) October 15, 2023
DOWN GOES THE 49ERS!!
UNDEFEATED NO MORE! pic.twitter.com/HXWwOd0EC9
— TPS (@TotalProSports) October 15, 2023
