CLEVELAND – Here is how the 49ers (9-4) graded in Sunday’s 26-8 rout of the host Browns (3-9):
PASS OFFENSE: A-
Brock Purdy played turnover-free football and shadow boxed Myles Garrett, the NFL’s marquee pass rusher who had the lone sack on Purdy to raise his season total to 19, four shy of setting an NFL record. Once the 49ers fell behind 8-7, Purdy got aggressive and passed the 49ers into field-goal position to take a 10-8 lead into halftime, with his most daring throw producing a 33-yard completion to George Kittle at the Browns’ 7. Purdy predictably sought out Jauan Jennings for a third-and-goal touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Not to be overlooked was Kyle Juszczyk’s 300th career reception on the game’s opening snap – and No. 301 on Purdy’s first completion after halftime.
RUN OFFENSE: B-
What made this an above-average performance was Purdy’s 2-yard, zone-read touchdown run past Garrett for a 17-8 lead late in the third quarter. None of the 49ers’ 33 carries went beyond nine yards, and Christian McCaffrey blamed himself for that. McCaffrey did score his eighth touchdown run in as many games, slicing between left guard Spencer Burford and center Jake Brendel for a 2-yard score and 7-0 lead. McCaffrey finished with 53 yards on 20 carries (his fourth game this year under 3 yards per carry). Brian Robinson had 26 yards on eight carries.
PASS DEFENSE: A-
Nothing described the Browns’ strategy in Shedeur Sanders’ first start more than this: nine consecutive runs before he found Harold Fannin for a 34-yard touchdown pass on a zone beater between Luke Farrell and defensive backs Ji’Ayir Brown and Renardo Green. Sanders threw for just 149 yards (16-of-25) and was sacked twice by Clelin Ferrell and once by Keion White. Sanders could have ignited an upset on the first drive but he overthrew an open Jerry Jeudy about 35 yards downfield. The 49ers had no interceptions after two in each of the previous two games.
RUN DEFENSE: C+
Robert Saleh’s unit rallied after allowing 94 first-half rushing yards, and the Browns finished with 138, led by Quinshon Judkins’ 91 yards on 23 carries. A pair of fourth-down run stops were pivotal: Malik Mustapha and Jordan Elliott combined on the first against Judkins at the 49ers’ 21-yard line in the first quarter, then Luke Gifford recovered a botched fourth-and-1 snap at the Browns’ 32-yard line to trigger the 49ers’ 16-0 scoring spree in the second half.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Skyy Moore’s career-long 66-yard punt return set up the 49ers’ first touchdown drive. A 12-men-on-the-field penalty set up the Browns’ go-ahead two-point conversion run. Darrell Luter Jr. recovered a muffed punt at the Browns’ 18-yard line, setting up Jennings’ fourth-quarter touchdown. Matt Gay was perfect for a second straight game filling in for the injured Eddy Piñeiro, although Gay used the left upright to clank in the first of his two field goals.
COACHING: A
Kyle Shanahan kept the 49ers focused when so much could have worked against them: a short week after winning Monday night, a 10 a.m. Pacific start, a 35-degree kickoff temperature with 20 mph winds, and, of course, the long-awaited bye week on deck. Robert Saleh adjusted his defense accordingly after halftime with more five-man fronts and more physical dominance, producing a second-half shutout that was the 49ers’ first since 2023. Four games remain until what should be the 49ers’ fourth (and most unlikely) playoff trip in five years.