The Niners are 3-0 and coming off of a bye week. They will host the Cleveland Browns on Monday night at Levi's Stadium and look to go 4-0 for the first time since 1990.
Andrew Siciliano asked Rice if this 49ers team is the real deal.
Rice liked San Francisco's ability to overcome five turnovers against the Pittsburgh Steelers and still emerge with the victory.
Despite the 49ers' undefeated status, there are many who still doubt the team can be a contender this season. Rice sounds confident the Niners can prove themselves by cleaning up their mistakes and noted some other things that will help San Francisco down the stretch.
"They've got to protect the football, they've got to keep Jimmy [Garoppolo] healthy," Rice told Siciliano. "With the wide receivers, they've got to continue to make plays. They've still got to be able to run the football. If they can do that, I feel like they're going to be legitimate and make a run."
So basically, the Hall of Fame receiver is saying what everyone else has noted. The 49ers have played far from perfect football during the first quarter of the season. Still, they are 3-0. With tougher opponents coming up, those mistakes need to be corrected because the better teams are more likely to take advantage of them.
Although, it is worth noting that two of the 49ers' first three opponents, the Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had big wins during Week 4.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Mel Kiper's debut mock draft has 49ers addressing a crucial need
Few expected the San Francisco 49ers to target a wide receiver in last year's draft, as it wasn't considered a pressing need. Even more surprising was the team's decision to use its first-round pick on Ricky Pearsall, who most didn't view as the top receiver available in their... -
Falcons hire defensive coordinator once on the 49ers' radar
The Atlanta Falcons are hiring Jeff Ulbrich as their new defensive coordinator, removing another highly qualified candidate from the market. The #Falcons are hiring Jeff Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator, per sources. A former NFL linebacker, Ulbrich finished last season... -
PFN 7-round mock draft: 49ers address both sides of the ball with top picks
Seven-round mock drafts are always fascinating and challenging, attempting to project every pick for every team. Pro Football Network analyst Dalton Miller recently released one, predicting the San Francisco 49ers will address both sides of the ball with their first two... -
49ers star defender wants to see Maxx Crosby in red and gold
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir has a bold idea to strengthen the team's defense heading into the 2025 season: bring in Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Taking to social media, Lenoir expressed his desire to see Crosby in red and gold. Max Crosby...