Report Card for the 49ers Win over the Browns
The Pur-Dougie Strikes in Cleveland
Weather concerns loomed large heading into Cleveland. The media hype surrounding Shedeur Sanders’ first win was loud. A 41-year losing streak was on the line for the franchise. And proponents of Brock Purdy were fighting for their lives on X all week following his three interception performance against Carolina.
If one were strictly record watching ahead of Sunday’s contest the stakes of the game may not have been evident, but the 49ers had everything to lose against one of the best defenses in the NFL. What they turned in when the pressure was on was a deathly efficient drubbing in all three phases of the game. Here is your week 13 report card:
Offense
Quarterback: A-
This might feel overly generous for a stat line of 16/29, 172 total yards, one passing and one rushing touchdown, but that’s why we do interpretive grades rather than regurgitate the box score. The Browns may be down bad in 2025 as a whole, but their home defense has been as good as it gets. Purdy was facing pressure left and right, he displayed both escapability and quick decision making in the face of generational great Myles Garrett. The read option into a Dougie was awesome, his needle threading in-breaker score to Jauan was one of his better throws of 2025. None of that is to mention the myriad of outside the numbers dimes he dropped. Don’t get too hung up on the yardage or completion percentage, this was elite play from the franchise QB. A well earned A for the kid. Here’s an excellent dissection of just how good he was on Sunday by the great @jonnydels on X.
Offensive Line: C-
Brock was hit on seven of his 29 dropbacks (sacked once), and the rushing attack generated 2.8 YPC. Hard to give them big fellas up front even a firm C with those results. They did enough to win the game, but this was far from memorable from Trent Williams and company. We’ll C what adjustments are made following the bye.
Running Backs: C
Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson Jr. combined for 28 carries, yielding a lowly 79 yards. Kyle Juszczyk and CMC added six catches for 48 in the passing game as well. Really not a whole lot to add here, not bad enough for a D by any means, but far from B caliber play, which is to be expected against the Browns at home. This was by far their stiffest test on the ground for the remainder of the season.
Receivers and Tight Ends: B
I couldn’t get to an A for these guys when they combined for 10 catches, 120 yards. However… Situationally Jauan Jennings and George Kittle showed out. Kittle produced one of his career highlights on a back shoulder, one handed snag to set up a field goal before halftime. Both converted a handful of key third downs, and Jennings’ work in between a corner and dropping linebacker for the nail in the coffin 4th quarter touchdown was clinical. It would B great if I could just hand out A’s, but that’s not what the Hub pays me the big bucks for. Discerning grades are what we’re after around here.
Defense
Rushing Defense: A-
The Browns opted to run the ball 31 times on Sunday, they produced 138 yards, 4.5 YPC from them. Nothing stellar from the rushing defense per se, but a ton of these rushes occurred while the Niners held a sizable lead and were sitting back in zone. It appeared at times they were happy to let Quinshon Judkins grind out a handful of yards at a time as the clock slipped away. They forced multiple turnovers on downs from fourth and short stops, rookie Alfred Collins was a problem all day up the middle. So much so he prompted a shout out from Kittle after the game. Despite the healthy 4.5 YPC allowed, the two fourth down stops were pivotal, game defining moments that earned this unit the A-.
Passing Defense: B
It would be fair to point out the degree of difficulty on Sunday. In semi inclement weather this defense faced a fifth round rookie QB in his second career start, who is throwing to Jerry Jeudy and another rookie in Harold Fannin Jr. as his primary weapons. But what one would expect when faced with a softer matchup is a solid showing. Sanders threw for 16/25, 149 yards and one touchdown. Sans the one broken cover four assignment from Renardo Green against Fannin Jr., the Browns were operating in a mostly dink and dunk capacity. Above average but not great, definitionally a B performance.
Special Teams: A+
Two touchdowns! The San Francisco 49ers generated two touchdowns as a direct result of special teams play. The Skyy Moore 66 yarder set up the first score of the game, and the muffed fumble recovery put the game out of reach. What a turn around executed by Brant Boyer’s unit. In a game with a sub 40 point over/under, 14 points off plus special teams play could have been the sole reason for that win. Fill in kicker Matt Gay got his attempts home as well. Awesome work, and not something most of us anticipated ahead of 2025. Another A+ game, I can’t believe it.