Sanders Battles, Purdy Pushes as Browns and 49ers Trade Blows in Cleveland
What a wild afternoon it turned into in Cleveland, where the Browns and the 49ers found themselves locked in one of those gritty, defensive slugfests that almost feel like playoff football. And right at the center of it all was Shedeur Sanders, making just his second NFL start — and doing everything he could to prove Week 12 was no fluke.
The game opened in a way that set the tone early. Both teams traded punts, neither offense able to get much traction. Then suddenly, momentum swung when San Francisco’s Skyy Moore ripped off a stunning 66-yard punt return, setting his team up deep in Browns territory. From there, it was all Christian McCaffrey. Every yard of that short drive flowed through him, and he capped it off with a one-yard plunge to put the 49ers up 7-0.
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Cleveland tried to respond, but a stuffed fourth-and-1 run at the Niners’ 20 stopped a promising drive cold. For a while, it looked like opportunities would keep slipping through their hands. But just before halftime, Sanders finally seized the moment. With 46 seconds left, he stepped into the pocket and lofted a beautiful, high-arching ball up the left sideline. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. had shaken loose on a wheel route, and the connection turned into a 34-yard touchdown — a big-time play that showed exactly why the Browns trusted Sanders with the job.
Then came a gutsy decision: after a penalty on the extra point, Cleveland lined up for two from the one. Running back Quinshon Judkins took the Wildcat snap and bulldozed his way in to put the Browns up 8-7. It felt like Cleveland had stolen back control.
But Brock Purdy wasn’t done. With only seconds left in the half, he heated up, stringing together completions of 13, 12 and then a deep 33-yard strike to George Kittle, who pulled the 49ers all the way down to the Cleveland 7. A short field goal bounced in off the upright, giving San Francisco a 10-8 lead at the break.
The second half never got less chaotic. Sanders briefly left after tweaking his ankle, only to return on the next play. Both teams battled wind, pressure and momentum swings. McCaffrey kept grinding, and Purdy eventually extended the lead with a smart read-option keeper, making it 17-8. A muffed punt by the Browns and a tough touchdown grab by Jauan Jennings helped push the 49ers’ advantage to 23-8.
And that became the story — a game where every inch mattered, where big mistakes were punished, and where Sanders continued to show promise even in tough circumstances. Cleveland fought, San Francisco capitalized, and the playoff-hungry 49ers ultimately stayed in control.
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