Matt Breida set the tone with a long run as part of his 114-yard night, and the San Francisco 49ers dominated the visiting Cleveland Browns in a 31-3 victory Monday in Santa Clara, California.
Teammate Tevin Coleman added 97 yards on the ground. San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed 20 of 29 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
The 49ers (4-0), the only unbeaten team in the NFC, held Cleveland to 180 total yards. San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa recorded two sacks.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 100 yards, completing just 8 of 22 throws for the Browns (2-3), who committed four turnovers. For Mayfield, a second-year pro, it marked his first career start without a passing touchdown. He was intercepted twice.
Breida ripped off an 83-yard touchdown run on the 49ers’ first offensive snap on the first of his 11 carries. He also scored on a 5-yard pass from Garoppolo later in the first quarter.
The 49ers went 90 yards on the first possession of the second half, with Garoppolo throwing 22 yards to George Kittle for a touchdown and a 28-3 advantage. San Francisco rushed for 185 first-half yards, so it didn’t matter that Garoppolo had thrown for only 46 yards.
Mayfield was intercepted and lost a fumble in the first 11 1/2 minutes before he completed a pass. The 49ers failed to convert after the second of those turnovers when Robbie Gould’s 47-yard field-goal attempt drifted wide right.
Cleveland broke through early in the second quarter, with a 10-play drive resulting in Austin Seibert’s 30-yard field goal. The Browns moved into scoring position on their next possession, but Antonio Callaway failed to make a catch at the goal line and the batted ball was picked off by K’Waun Williams and returned 49 yards.
The 49ers made the most of the turnover on Coleman’s 19-yard touchdown run. He finished with 16 carries. Mayfield had 80 passing yards in the first half.
The 49ers could be without a key piece of their offense going forward after fullback Kyle Juszczyk reportedly injured his left MCL in the win.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the initial diagnosis yesterdat morning and said Juszczyk will have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. The three-time Pro Bowl selection appeared to injure his left leg while blocking for Matt Breida late in the third quarter of against the Browns.
Juszczyk immediately grabbed his knee and was attended to by training staff on the field. After being examined in the sideline medical tent, he was carted to the locker room.
Juszczyk, 28, helped the 49ers rack up 185 rushing yards in the first half Monday. He also caught two passes for 20 yards.
As one of the few NFL teams to employ a fullback, the 49ers (4-0) lead the league with 200.0 rushing yards per game.
Juszczyk has appeared in 98 games with the 49ers and Baltimore Ravens (2013-16), catching 166 passes for 1,484 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing 23 times for 92 yards and a score.