It was raining in one of Brock Purdy’s worst games of the season, a 19-17 road loss to the Cleveland Browns in October, and now it’s expected to rain in the 49ers’ playoff opener.
The Niners will kick off their postseason with a 5:15 p.m. PT start against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium, where there’s an 80% chance of rain and wind gusts as high as 21 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Accuweather offered a similar forecast, noting, “a rain jacket may be needed for the football game.”
In the rainy Cleveland loss, Purdy threw his first interception in 249 attempts when he let one sail over the head of Brandon Aiyuk. He finished the game just 12-for-27 with 125 yards and one touchdown and one pick.
He also had his hand slip off the ball on an attempted pass which resulted in a fumble, though he recovered it.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t seem concerned when discussing the weather on Saturday.
Asked how the field at Levi’s Stadium has held up through the rain, he said, “Good. Most of the fields are the same. (There are) ones that are real bad, but ours is good. I think it’s held up well and very similar to our practice field.”
Shanahan said 49ers director of groundskeeping Matt Greiner “is the man.”
The Niners will hope to play better Saturday than they did in Cleveland, when they committed 12 penalties for 105 yards and lost Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel to injuries, while left tackle Trent Williams played most of the game on an ankle he injured in the first quarter.
Still, the 49ers are heavily favored in the Divisional Round game on Saturday, when they’ll enter as 9-1/2 point favorites, according to Draft Kings Sportsbook. They’re also the favorites to win the Super Bowl at plus-175, meaning a $100 bet would net $175 if they win it all.
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