Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the 49ers’ 5 most exciting games on 2019 NFL schedule

By Peter Panacy

Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 13: Tight end Gary Barnidge #82 of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass while under pressure from strong safety Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 13: Tight end Gary Barnidge #82 of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass while under pressure from strong safety Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Week 5 vs. Cleveland Browns

San Francisco gets three prime-time games this season. And the first on the calendar will be a Week 5 Monday Night Football matchup against the upstart Cleveland Browns.

After a wild offseason, the Browns are now serious postseason contenders with a very real chance of earning the AFC North crown in 2019. Not long ago, both the 49ers and Browns were seemingly the perennial laughingstock teams in the league. Cleveland has shed that moniker, while San Francisco is still looking to get out of the bottom ranks.

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Dividing each team’s campaign into quarters, the first four weeks will be interesting in revealing whether or not the Browns are for real this season. Sure, second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield is a big enough storyline to watch on his own. But Cleveland’s defense is also improved, while Mayfield has plenty of offensive weapons at his disposal.

Including wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

The 49ers hotly pursued Beckham during the offseason. But the New York Giants rebuffed the would-be Niners offer, instead electing to send him to Cleveland in the blockbuster trade of 2019 so far.

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On paper, the Browns sure look like one of the teams to beat this season. And the Niners will have a chance at doing so early on in front of a national audience.