Just two weeks ago, the San Francisco 49ers were riding high with an undefeated record and a strong sense of confidence as they approached a clash with the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.
Then, things unraveled quickly.
The Browns ended the 49ers' impressive 15-game regular-season winning streak. Yet, many dismissed this loss as an anomaly, assuming San Francisco would rebound the following week against the Minnesota Vikings.
The 49ers lost that game, too.
After a challenging two-game road stretch, the team is eager to head into the bye week on a positive note, seeking a home victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. 49ers players can't dwell on what happened in the last two weeks because the Bengals are hoping to extend San Francisco's losing streak to three games.
"It's just week-to-week," defensive tackle Javon Hargrave recently told Dave Helman on The NFL on FOX Podcast. "A couple of weeks ago, we were [seen as] God's gift to earth. Then, the last two weeks, you've got to hear all this negative talk and how bad things are going with us. So I've just learned to have a short memory with all of that, not really getting too high with my highs or too low with my lows. It's just a mindset of getting better every day."
The 49ers boast a wealth of veteran leadership on the roster who understand what it takes to overcome adversity. That includes Hargrave, who draws experience from his previous NFL homes.
Hargrave joined the 49ers as a free agent in March, following a three-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, preceded by four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I was just telling the guys yesterday, we've been here before," Hargrave said. "I've been on two-game or three-game losing streaks before and came out on top. It's just the experience. I tell myself all the time, even when I go through tough times, I always come out on top.
"When I was in situations when I doubted myself, somehow, I always found a way to win. You're gonna go through bumps in the road like this, but you've really got to stay consistent. … Once we go on a winning streak, everyone's gonna forget about those two games."
Perhaps.
Like this year, the 49ers faced back-to-back losses in Weeks 6 and 7 last season. After that, they didn't suffer another loss until the NFC Championship Game. Hargrave and the 49ers are hoping for similar success this season, and that begins with a win against the Bengals this Sunday.
