The Browns’ performance at San Francisco will be a near-certain barometer of which direction this team and franchise are headed. After a narrow loss to Indy and an all-around debacle in Baltimore, there are serious questions about not only the current team’s ability but also the leadership of Coach Butch Davis. Davis came on strong in 2001, winning six of his first ten games with what was a 5-27 expansion team. Though victories became scarce down the stretch, the team played with intensity, leading to the exciting playoff year in 2002. To follow that up with an 0-2 start — no matter what the reasons — is not acceptable to most Browns fans. Far beyond the difference between 1-2 and 0-3, the 49ers game is fraught with significance.

If the Browns play poorly and lose:

— They will be embarrassed nationally and become the league’s laughingstock. The oddsmakers might even put them as underdawgs for their next game against the Bengals!

— The quarterback controversy will recapture the headlines. Despite Butch’s stubbornness, the pressure to play Couch will become immense.

— Fans, media, and the team brass will rightly question whether Butch has “lost the team.” Veteran players will start thinking (or solidify their intentions) about getting out of Cleveland.

–The season will become a “rebuilding” year, but scrutiny of Butch’s draft picks and other personnel moves will reveal more skepticism than optimism about the future.

–The home crowd against the Bengals will be extremely surly.

However, if the Browns play well and win:

–Those first two losses will seem like temporary growing pains. With a good chance of starting 2-2, the season will seem salvageable.

–Butch will regain his reputation as master motivator by getting his team to muster an upset on the road.

–The young players who perform best will gain valuable confidence in themselves and trust from the coaches.

–The team will practice with a spring in its step, knowing it can look realistically at a goal of returning to the playoffs.

There are two other possibilities. In theory, the Browns could play poorly and win, but this is very remote. Or they could play well and still lose. This would likely bring more hyperbolic coach-speak into the media but do little to pacify outside observers.

I’m looking for C.J. Jones to make his pro debut, for fullback Kevin McLeod to be activated for special teams and lead blocking, for the defensive ends to attack Garcia’s blind side, for Kelly Holcomb to stop telegraphing his throws and use more misdirection and ball fakes, for Quincy Morgan to compete for the role of best #81 on the field, and for the linebackers and safeties to wrap up and gang tackle with ferocity. If most of those things happen, the Browns have a chance of saving this season and this coaching regime.