San Francisco 49ers: NFC Favorites? It’ll be hard to argue if they beat the Browns

As we prepare for Monday Night Football in the fourth week of the NFL regular season, only two teams remain undefeated. No one’s surprised by the New England Patriots record, but plenty of people seem shocked by the San Francisco 49ers 3-0 record.

It’s important to remember that the San Francisco 49ers‘ strength of schedule has been far from elite. I predicted the team to finish 9-7 this season but expected them to start 3-0.

In my preseason game-by-game predictions, I noted, “Their first opponent with a top-tier roster doesn’t come until Week 5 when they host the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football.”

First, San Francisco had to prove they were capable of being a contender. A contender consistently beats the bottom tier teams in the league and can compete with the best. After defeating Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, they’ve proven they are superior to the 49ers of years past.

Now, facing a legitimate opponent in Cleveland, they can jump from contender to favorite.

Here’s the reality, as it stands today the 49ers are the NFC favorites until they lose.

After reaching the Super Bowl last season the Los Angeles Rams were the team to beat. However, they’ve already accrued two losses. One to a legitimate Seattle team, but another to Tampa Bay. Jared Goff‘s limitations continue to prevent their team from dominating the league.

The Saints, Seahawks, and Packers are the only 4-1 teams in the NFC. The Saints lost handly to the Rams and have a negative point differential on the season. Seattle defeated LA, but lost to the Saints and barely defeated Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

Green Bay remains the biggest threat in my opinion, but even they have yet to put together a complete game this season the way San Francisco manhandled Cincinnati.

The Lions are the only other one-loss team remaining in the conference at 2-1-1. A Week 1 tie to the Arizona Cardinals is a huge demerit on their resume, but they’ve beaten talented Chargers and Eagles teams, while only falling to Kansas City by four points.

While each of these teams could end up the NFC champion, they all have legitimate blemishes on their resume. With San Francisco, you can only nitpick. Yes, they’ve had more turnovers than they should have.

However, according to Pro Football Focus, a number of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo‘s interceptions have been a product of luck more than poor decision making or execution.

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My preseason prediction for tonight’s game was a 42-35 49ers win in a resounding shootout. A key component of my argument was travel and rest. San Francisco, coming off a bye week has had two weeks to prepare and has now been home for nearly a month.

Cleveland started their season at home before going to New York, returning to the Midwest, traveling to Baltimore last week, and now comes all the way across the country.

Cleveland’s offense has the best weapons and quarterback San Francisco’s defense has faced thus far this season, but the Niners elite defensive line should give Cleveland’s weak offensive line enough problems to hold them off.

Granted, the 49ers have their own pass rush concerns to worry about as rookie left tackle Justin Skule, who’s replacing an injured Joe Staley, will face off against Myles Garrett on Garoppolo’s blindside.

More from San Francisco 49ers

• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
• 49ers sign TE Daniel Helm off the Buccaneers practice squad
• 49ers: Jordan Reed could miss up to two months, will be placed on IR

Expect a shootout that forces the more talented defense to prevail. Having watched their first three games on the season, I find it difficult to pick against San Francisco.

This could all be up in smoke tonight. The Browns could trounce the Niners or even just pull out a close victory and Seattle will be back in first place in the NFC West. But, this is where 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has wanted to be, as the team with something to lose.

Now they just need to win.