Every NFL game is a test of talent, brawn, and smarts. But for the 49ers, Sunday’s game in Cleveland is a test of character, too.
The Niners are the unquestioned team to beat in the NFL. They’ve won 15 consecutive regular-season games — a win Sunday would be a franchise record — and enter Sunday’s contest as a 9.5-point road favorite (and rising) against a Browns team that lost its best player for the season in Week 2 and is sitting its starting quarterback for the contest.
This is a trap game if I’ve ever seen one.
It’d be so easy for the 49ers, feeling like this should be an easy win amid so many other victories, to go to Ohio for a 10 a.m. Pacific kickoff and lay an egg — making a should-be win a close game, or worse, a loss.
And don’t think the Browns can’t make that happen for San Francisco. Cleveland might be starting quarterback P.J. Walker (11 interceptions to 5 touchdowns in 228 career pass attempts) — elevating him from the practice squad to do it — but there are still weapons around him, including impressive running back Jerome Ford.
And, with all due respect to the 49ers, the Browns’ defense might be the best in the NFL. Now, the Niners’ offense will be the Browns’ defense’s toughest test yet this season, but don’t think Cleveland is not up for the challenge.
They’re not the Cowboys, after all.
No, the question for Sunday for the Niners is if they’re up for the challenge of this game.
It’s a simple challenge, but it’s difficult to master: The Niners need to stay on task.
Brock Purdy and company will win handily if they have their heads in this game.
Now, I believe Purdy when he says his weekly motivation — regardless of opponent — is that: “There’s another level I can get to, so that’s what I’m trying to get. Take it one day at a time.” But every player, up and down the roster, having that chip on their shoulder is pretty unlikely.
And it takes a whole team to win.
The Niners coaches and players are hellbent on returning to the Super Bowl and, this time, winning it. With that goal constantly in mind, it’s hard not to look forward to bigger games and look over lesser opponents like the Walker-led Browns.
Can the Niners’ captains — Fred Warner, Trent Williams, George Kittle, Arik Armstead, Deebo Samuel, and Brock Purdy — keep this team’s focus on Cleveland and not the Eagles on Dec. 3 or the Super Bowl on Feb. 11?
Yes, the moment that Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was ruled out for Sunday’s game was when the Niners had to hunker down and focus.
We on the outside can admit that we’re looking past this game. The Niners have no such luxury if they want to win.
As such, the Browns aren’t the opponent this weekend; it’s the Niners against themselves.
San Francisco has a chance to be the best team I’ve ever seen. Mercy, are they good. But to actually reach that status, the players and coaches cannot take off a week physically or mentally.
Amid a 17-week schedule, teams are going to coast. It’s human nature. And this game against Cleveland is ripe for the 49ers to enter with their guard down. Even against a quarterback like PJ Walker, that’s a recipe for disaster.
This week, the 49ers’ character needs to lead the way.
There are a lot of teams with top-tier roster talent.
There are a lot of well-coached teams.
But rare is the team that has both of those factors working in their favor and also has elite locker room leadership.
We know the Niners have the first two things.
I think the Niners have the third. This Sunday we’ll find out if that’s true.