The Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers just couldn’t wait.
Prior to kickoff, the two teams got into a major scuffle that involved several key players on both teams, including Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Juan Thornhill, Trent Williams and Elijah Moore, among others.
As the 49ers left the field, a few Browns were staring down their opposition, including Thornhill, Matt Adams and Anthony Walker.
The Fox NFL crew reacted to the incident shortly after, which led into kickoff.
“This is the worst thing that can happen for Cleveland. Don’t poke the bear!” Jimmy Johnson reacted on the pregame show. “With San Francisco, the danger is number one: They gotta stay healthy. Number two, they don’t wanna peak too early. But the third thing is don’t get bored.
“They’re the best team in football!” Johnson continued. “And now, you start the pushing and shoving, that just gives San Francisco some incentive to go out there and play hard against a team that they should beat.”
After kickoff, the 49ers immediately went out to a 7-0 lead after scoring on their opening drive, where quarterback Brock Purdy connected with dynamic running back Christian McCaffery for a 13-yard touchdown.
Johnson was onto something, it would appear.
The 49ers, who are 5-0, stand alongside the Philadelphia Eagles as the lone remaining undefeated teams in football.
The Browns are 2-2 and stand in third place of a crowded AFC North.
Samuel and Williams did suffer shoulder and ankle injuries, respectively, early in the game and were questionable to return.
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