Jerry Rice believes early bye week will help 49ers, feels Steelers shouldn’t have been in the game

Just looking at the team stats from the San Francisco 49ers' 24-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, you might think the Niners steamrolled the visiting team. The 49ers led in first downs, total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, and time of possession. In most areas, that lead was significant.

The 49ers also led in another category — turnovers. The team had five compared to the Steelers' two yet still managed to find a way to win.

Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice joined 95.7 The Game on Monday, as he does each week during the season, and was asked if the 49ers entering an early bye week could kill the team's momentum following the 3-0 start.

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"No, I don't think so because now they can go and refine some things," Rice responded on the "Joe, Lo and Dibs" show. "I'm sure they're going to look at that film and be critical on themselves because there was no way the Steelers should have been in that ballgame with the Niners.

"With five turnovers, you don't win football games. Normally, if you have one or two, you might have a chance. The percentages go down. But if you've got five, and they still end up winning that football game, now they can do back and make those corrections, and then come back against Cleveland."

Rice was on hand on Sunday after attending the festivities over the weekend related to former teammate Terrell Owens' induction into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame. The two sprinted to the end zone before kickoff, for old time's sake.

The proud Owens jokingly boasted how much better he looks than Rice as the two had some fun on the field at Levi's Stadium. Rice got in the last word.

"But I think my statue (in the 49ers Museum) is a little bit cooler than his statue," Rice noted.

You can listen to the entire conversation with Rice below.