A wintery mix is in the forecast for Sunday as the Cleveland Browns welcome the San Francisco 49ers to town for Week 13.
The last time these two teams got together was Week 5 of 2023 and the Browns pulled off an unexpected 19-17, upset win in similarly sloppy conditions. Dustin Hopkins hit the game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter to seal the deal, with P.J. Walker starting at quarterback. It was a win that defined a season marred by a compilation of injuries.
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A win on Sunday wouldn’t mean quite as much for Cleveland in 2025. The playoffs are a mere pipe dream at this point for them. But it would be a step in the right direction for a young team looking to get back in contention as soon as 2026.
It would also go a long way for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders continuing to cement himself as the starting QB for at least the rest of 2025, but possibly beyond. Sanders is coming off a respectable 11-20, 209 yard, one touchdown and one interception performance against the Raiders last week, in what was his first start. Now he’ll face a 49ers team that is dead last in sacks, and in the bottom third of the league in pressures.
The problem is, the weather may render both team’s passing attacks mostly useless. Brock Purdy is coming off of rough performance on Monday Night Football last week, where he threw three interceptions in his return from turf toe against the Carolina Panthers.
This game could ultimately come down to which team can run the football better. Something neither team does particularly well this season. The 49ers rank 26th in the league in average yards per game on the ground, while the Browns rank 28th. Somethings gotta give there.
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Another interesting wrinkle in this one is the fact that Jim Schwartz-led defenses are 9-1 against Kyle Shanahan-led offenses over the course of their careers, Will history repeat itself again, or will Shanahan finally find a winning formula against Myles Garrett and company?
THe Browns are IN THE HUNT | Prep for the 49ers is Underway | Snow Football Incoming on Sunday
Anthony Moeglin’s Prediction
It’s Shedeur Sanders’ first start in Cleveland, and of course, it is going to be another crazy weather day up on the shores of Lake Erie. If the current projected forecast holds up, it should actually be a major advantage for the Browns as they look to get their second win in a row.
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Cleveland’s offense certainly looked a little bit better with Sanders leading the way but it wasn’t perfect. The game plan for Cleveland on Sunday is just to win. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. They just have to score one more point than the 49ers. I believe they will lean heavily into the run game and throw a lot off of play action to give Sanders some easy completions when needed.
The key is going to be not turning the football over and winning the possession battle. On defense, the Browns are going to lean on a home crowd that may just show up to witness the Sanders mania, and lean into the weather, which should makes moving the football difficult for both teams.
Jim Schwartz has been a thorn in the side of Kyle Shanahan over the years, and I expect that to continue on Sunday. The 49ers are bruised and battered on the offensive side of the ball, and they are simply not what they used to be. There shouldn’t be anything to fear for the Browns’ defense, and I expect Cleveland to dominate.
It will be an ugly game but the Browns get the job done to win two in a row for the first time since 2023.
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Browns 13, 49ers 6
Spencer German’s Prediction
There’s certainly a lot to consider when it comes to this matchup. The weather really could muck things up. The 49ers remain a well-coached team but are missing a number of key players that would normally make them a juggernaut. Shedeur Sanders seemed to bring a little extra juice to the offense in his first career start last week.
All those things intersect on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field, with the Browns looking to win two in a row for the first time in nearly two years.
San Francisco ranking dead last in the league in sacks feels notable. They also don’t blitz a ton either. So their pass rush just isn’t what it usually is when Nick Bosa is on the field for them. That matters. Not that its going to be a day made for throwing the football, given the forecast. But when they do throw it, I’m fascinated to see if Sanders will be able to operate from the pocket more comfortably than usual and find the right plays.
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Still, I think this game is going to come down to who can run the ball most effectively. The Browns defense should find ways to slow down the 49ers’ offense for most of the game, with the weather providing an assist. But they’re emphasis on getting Christian McCaffrey to the edge could lead to some chunk plays.
Conversely, I still just don’t know if the Browns run game has the same juice. It’s not a Quinshon Judkins problem, he’s great. It’s the fact that most of his yardage comes after contact and there just hasn’t been the clean running lanes you want to see.
I’m envisioning a death by 1,000 cuts type thing, where the Browns are in control until late, but San Francisco breaks through when they need it most to earn a win
49ers 21, Browns 20