Browns at 49ers
THE STORY: Jim Harbaugh has transformed the San Francisco 49ers into one of the best teams in the NFL. His next big challenge is to make sure they don't "Drink the Kool-Aid." The 49ers return from their bye looking to build on their best start in 13 years Sunday at home against the offensively challenged Cleveland Browns. Harbaugh is the front-runner for Coach of the Year after helping the 49ers, who haven’t had a winning record since 2002, to their first 5-1 start since 1998. His postgame skirmish with Detroit coach Jim Schwartz prior to the bye week has taken some of the focus off his tremendous coaching job, however. The Browns are coming off an ugly 6-3 win over Seattle.
TV: CBS, 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: 49ers -9.5, O/U 38.5
ABOUT THE 49ERS (5-1): San Francisco is getting it done with defense, a strong dose of Frank Gore and steady quarterback play from former No.1 overall pick Alex Smith. Only the vaunted Baltimore Ravens’ defense (13.8 ppg) has been better than the 49ers’ unit in terms of points allowed (16.2 ppg). Rookie LB Aldon Smith has six sacks, which is tied Denver’s Von Miller for the most among first-year players. Meanwhile, Gore has totaled 393 yards and three touchdowns over the last three games. Smith has been efficient (1,090 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs) and he will be helped out by the return of former Brown Braylon Edwards (knee), who has been out since Week 2.
ABOUT THE BROWNS (3-3): Cleveland is averaging a mere 16.2 points, which is 27th in the league. How bad was the Browns’ offense against Seattle? It had the ball for nearly 43 minutes, but ventured into the red zone only once. Phil Dawson kicked two 50-plus yard field goals. RB Montario Hardesty started in place of Peyton Hillis (hamstring) last week and ran for 95 yards on 33 carries. Hillis, who’s been upset about his contract situation, is questionable. Cleveland will likely be without WR Mohamed Massaquoi (concussion) and TE Ben Watson (concussion).
EXTRA POINTS:
1. “(I) just get to the point where I’d tell them it was a misunderstanding,” 49ers safety Donte Whitner, on his family and friends’ questions about Harbaugh’s run-in with Schwartz.
2. Led by shutdown CB Joe Haden, the Browns boast the fourth-best defense in the NFL (291.0 ypg).
3. Cleveland is at .500 after six games for the first time since 2007.