Brock Purdy Handles the Elements - and the Browns - as 49ers Cruise to Week 13 Win
Heading into Week 13, one of the biggest questions surrounding the San Francisco 49ers wasn’t about their defense, their star-studded offense, or even their playoff positioning. It was about Brock Purdy - and specifically, how the young quarterback would hold up in bad weather.
The numbers told a story that gave 49ers fans a reason to pause. Before Sunday, Purdy had won just two of his five starts in rain or snow, completing only 57.4% of his passes with a passer rating of 64.8.
That’s a far cry from the 105.1 rating he posted in fair-weather games.
So when the Niners traveled to Cleveland with rain and snow in the forecast, the matchup wasn’t just about facing one of the league’s nastiest defenses - it was also about whether Purdy could get it done when the skies weren’t cooperating.
As it turned out, the weather gave him a bit of a break. The heavy precipitation that had been expected didn’t quite show up.
But that didn’t mean it was easy. The field was still slick from the storms that had rolled through Northeast Ohio in the days leading up to kickoff.
Add in freezing temperatures and swirling winds, and you’ve still got a challenging environment for any quarterback - let alone one whose track record in those conditions had been shaky.
But Purdy didn’t flinch. Gloveless and composed, the 25-year-old delivered a clean, efficient performance in a game that demanded poise and ball security.
He finished 16-of-29 for 168 yards, one touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings, and - crucially - no interceptions. He also added a rushing touchdown as the 49ers rolled to a 26-8 win over the Browns.
His passer rating? A solid 83.7 - not elite, but more than enough considering the circumstances and the opponent.
This wasn’t a shootout, and it didn’t need to be. The 49ers' defense and special teams set the table with short fields, and Purdy did exactly what the moment called for: protect the football, move the chains, and take advantage of the opportunities when they came.
He made a few big-time throws, avoided the backbreaking mistake, and kept the offense on schedule. That’s winning football, especially against a defense as physical and opportunistic as Cleveland’s.
After the game, Purdy talked about his mindset heading into what was expected to be a weather-affected matchup. His approach was simple: prepare for the worst, stay locked in, and trust the team around him.
“Yesterday we got here, and there was snow all over two days ago, and then yesterday was snowing late at night,” Purdy said. “So, I woke up this morning, and I was like, ‘All right, it is what it is.
We just got to go find a way to win.’ It doesn’t matter how or what.
“Protect the ball, play within our offense, and let our defense and special teams do their thing, and also be smart. So, it didn’t matter what it was going to look like.
We’ve just got to find a way, and for me as a quarterback, protect the ball and get it done. So, that was the mindset.”
That mindset paid off. It wasn’t flashy, but it was mature - and it’s exactly the kind of game that builds confidence in a young quarterback’s ability to win in less-than-ideal conditions.
Looking ahead, the 49ers are in good shape when it comes to the schedule. After their Week 14 bye, three of their final four regular-season games will be played at Levi’s Stadium, and the lone road trip is indoors against the Colts. That makes Sunday’s win in Cleveland likely the coldest, sloppiest game they’ll face before the playoffs.
Of course, if the 49ers don’t lock up the NFC’s top seed, a return to the elements could be waiting in January. But for now, Purdy and the Niners can take this one as a step forward - not just in the standings, but in proving their quarterback can handle whatever the weather throws his way.