TL;DR
- San Francisco 49ers face Cleveland Browns with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders starting.
- Expected early winter weather with wind, rain, and snow could disrupt 49ers' offense.
- Harsh conditions may limit deep passes, field goals, and impact overall offensive performance.
- 49ers' strong offensive stats might be challenged by weather, increasing reliance on Christian McCaffrey.
The San Francisco 49ers (8-4) is set to compete against the Cleveland Browns (3-8 this Sunday, with rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders scheduled for his inaugural home start. Although the NFC West powerhouse appears poised to comfortably defeat the Browns based on their records, a significant element might disrupt these expectations: the atmospheric conditions.
Conditions typical of early winter are expected to arrive just off Lake Erie, and this poses a threat of hindering a San Francisco offense that has achieved strong statistics up to this point in 2025. The Weather Channel released the game-time weather for the upcoming contest, and it appears to be potentially hazardous:
"Windy. Rain showers early will transition to snow showers in the afternoon. High 38F. Winds SW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of precip 60%. Higher wind gusts possible."
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This will quite possibly impact certain play selections made by the 49ers' offensive coordinator, Klay Kubiak. It might restrict deep passing attempts and the chance to attempt what are typically achievable field goals. Most significantly, the harsh and windy weather could negatively influence one of the NFL's top offensive groups, overall.
The 49ers' offensive unit is brimming with skilled players.
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Under the leadership of former Super Bowl participant Brock Purdy, the Niners presently hold the 11th position in overall offense, averaging 348.6 yards each contest, and rank 12th in passing yards with 3,130. Furthermore, they are 15th in scoring, accumulating 23.4 points per game.
Those statistics may not hold significant weight when confronting natural forces, as the squad could find itself heavily dependent on running back Christian McCaffrey, who has accumulated 796 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. In addition to that, a more concise passing game will restrict San Francisco's offensive dynamism in Cleveland.
The Niners presently lag behind the Los Angeles Rams (9-2) and the Seattle Seahawks (8-3) in the NFC West standings, aiming to reach the postseason again after missing it in 2024. Before the previous year, San Francisco had participated in the playoffs consistently since 2020.