CLEVELAND—The football season didn’t end the way the San Francisco 49ers wanted it to end as they fell prey to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 30, 2007.   It has been a challenging season for the 49ers.  The team has dealt with countless injuries involving their quarterbacks. The team started the season with Alex Smith as quarterback, but he got injured and was soon replaced with Trent Dilfer.  Dilfer soon thereafter got injured and was replaced with Shaun Hill.  Hill eventually got injured which is the reason Chris Weinke started as quarterback in Sunday’s game.

The team’s loss to Cleveland on Sunday brings their record for this season to 5-11 and it’s unfortunate to say, but the 49ers won’t be heading to the playoffs this year.   The Cleveland Browns who had a record of 4-12 last season made a major improvement this season by bringing their record to 10-6 and they are headed to the playoffs.   As for San Francisco’s defensive end, Bryant Young, Sunday was his final game with the team.  He is retiring after 14 seasons.  

The Cleveland Browns were led by some superstars in the team’s victory over the 49ers.   Joshua Cribbs returned a punt for a 76-yard touchdown and Brady Quinn finally made his NFL debut in Sunday’s game.  The final score in the game was 20-7.  What will happen to the 49ers next season is unknown at this point, but the future of their head coach Mike Nolan is questionable.  His record with the team after three seasons is 16-32.   He is expected to meet with the team’s owner later this week to discuss his future with the team.  As for the 49ers, well there’s always next season.