49ers vs. Cleveland Browns

Phil Dawson kicked a 22-yard field goal in the final minute and the Cleveland Browns beat the 49ers 13-12 at Candlestick Park. Kelly Holcomb threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Jeff Garcia threw for 198 yards and an interception. Terrell Owens caught eight for 90. Garrison Hearst ran for 18. The 49ers' offense produced four Owen Pochman field goals and no touchdowns. The 49ers fell to 1-2 in the home loss.[1][2][3]

Phil Dawson made a 22-yard field goal in the final minute Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The Cleveland Browns beat the 49ers 13-12 in the kind of cross-conference home loss where, despite Terrell Owens's 90 receiving yards and Jeff Garcia's 198 passing, the 49ers' offense produced four field goals and zero touchdowns.

Garcia was 21-of-35 for 198 with an interception. Owens caught eight for 90. Garrison Hearst ran for 18 yards. Kelly Holcomb threw two touchdowns for the Browns. The kind of home loss where the year's offensive identity, with no touchdowns produced, ended on a last-minute Cleveland field goal.

1-2. The kind of cross-conference home loss where the year's offensive identity, against a 1-1 Browns team, produced zero touchdowns. The Minnesota Vikings on the road next Sunday in another NFC matchup. The kind of September where the year's identity tape, with the offense's failure to convert, is starting to slip.

Browns 13, 49ers 12. Margin: -1. Three-game record: 1-2, +38 differential.

* Phil Dawson: 22y FG in final minute (game-winner).
* Kelly Holcomb: 25-of-38 for 222, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
* William Green: 15 carries for 47.
* Quincy Morgan: receiving production with TD.
* Jeff Garcia: 21-of-35 for 198, 0 TDs, 1 INT.
* Garrison Hearst: 9 carries for 18.
* Terrell Owens: 8 catches for 90.
* 49ers offense: 0 touchdowns; 4 FGs.
* 49ers 1-2; Browns 2-1.

A 13-12 home loss to the Cleveland Browns at Candlestick. Phil Dawson's late field goal ends the year's most frustrating home game. The 49ers fall to 1-2.

How it unfolded

The 49ers scored first with two field goals to make it 6-0. The Browns answered with a Holcomb touchdown to take a 7-6 lead. Owen Pochman added a third 49ers field goal to make it 9-7. The 49ers added a fourth field goal in the third quarter to make it 12-7. The fourth quarter was a Holcomb second touchdown to push the Browns ahead 13-12, but the extra point was missed (kept it a one-score game). The 49ers' final possession ended on a Garcia interception.

The turning point

The 49ers' offense failure to score touchdowns. With four field goals and zero red-zone conversions, the year's offensive identity, which produced 49 points in the opener, ended on a one-touchdown deficit on a missed extra point. The kind of home loss where the offense did everything but finish drives.

By the numbers

Garcia 198 passing on 35 attempts with no TDs and an INT. Hearst 18 rushing on 9 carries. Owens 90 receiving on 8 catches. Eric Johnson 53 receiving on 5 catches. Holcomb 222 on 38 attempts with two TDs. William Green 47 rushing.

Personnel watch

The 49ers' offense's zero-touchdown game, the kind of red-zone failure that has the new staff's offensive coordinator (Greg Knapp) on the daily press conference watch. Terrell Owens's productive 90-yard receiving day. Jeff Garcia's interception. Owen Pochman's four field goals.

What it means

1-2 with the Vikings on the road next Sunday. The kind of cross-conference home loss where the offense's failure to convert in the red zone became the day's defining flaw. The kind of September where the year's identity tape, three games in, has produced a blowout win, a close primetime loss, and a one-score home loss to a backup quarterback's team.