In Sideline footage, we witnessed Christian McCaffrey’s valiant effort to warm up while battling an oblique issue during the San Francisco 49ers’ unexpected 19-17 defeat against the Cleveland Browns.
In an effort to stay in the game, McCaffrey demonstrated his tenacity by bending and rotating while kneeling, rebounding enthusiastically, and lifting his legs. McCaffrey had to leave the 49ers midway through the game since they were unable to win, dropping to a 5-1 record.
McCaffrey had run the ball 11 times for 43 yards and caught three catches before he left the game, extending his remarkable streak of 15 straight games with a score. He now shares a tie for first place with O.J. Simpson and John Riggins, two NFL greats. Simpson for the second-best NFL performance ever.
Against the Browns, San Francisco’s Brock Purdy had trouble finding his receivers because he was missing key players Deebo Samuel and McCaffrey. The standout defensive end for the 49ers, Nick Bosa, said that they didn’t play well, saying, “I don’t think we deserved to win. We didn’t underestimate them, but they did play better than us. We haven’t lost in the regular season in a long time, so it hurts a lot more.”
San Francisco’s offensive struggles were primarily the fault of Purdy, who had a disappointing game-ending performance. Only 12 of his 27 throws were completed, resulting in 125 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His quarterback rating was 55.3.
Jake Moody’s last-second 41-yard field goal attempt went wide to the right and gave Cleveland the victory (3-2), changing the course of the game forever. The 49ers’ offense was clearly lacking McCaffrey and Samuel, and Purdy struggled to take advantage of numerous opportunities.
Purdy admitted to his weaknesses and said, “I didn’t play at the standard that I needed to. We feel like we failed our own expectations. I just have to be better and make the throws. It’s the NFL. When you get opportunities, you’ve got to take care of them. There are plays that we didn’t make.”
McCaffrey was assessed in the locker room but was unable to return to the game, which might have an effect on his chances of winning MVP. Despite the setback, McCaffrey has 553 yards of total offense this season, including 23 receptions for 177 yards and two additional touchdowns.
San Francisco will play Minnesota on Monday Night Football the following week in an effort to get its mojo back.
