Who’s got it better than the 49ers? That is, who’s got a better record than their 6-1 mark?

The answer: nobody … except for the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

The 49ers’ lead in the NFC West grew to four games and their win streak climbed to five Sunday, courtesy of a 20-10 home win over the Cleveland Browns.

“It’s fun. We’re almost at the halfway point, and we’ve got a decent thing going on,” defensive end Justin Smith said. “We’ve got to continue it, and we have a long grind ahead of us.”

The 49ers will put their 3-0 road record on the line next Sunday when they visit the Washington Redskins, who are on a three-game losing streak. The Redskins (3-4) were shut out 23-0 by Buffalo on Sunday in Toronto.

As the 49ers, now at 6-1 for the first time since 1998, emerged from their bye week in winning style, their closest division foes fell further back in the standings. The Seattle Seahawks (2-5) and Arizona Cardinals (1-6) both lost, and the St. Louis Rams (1-6) notched their first victory.

“You can just feel it. The guys are pumped,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “It’s fun. It’s fun to be on a roll. This is why you play. This is why you put in all the time (and) sacrifice, to get the ‘W.’ “

The 49ers raced to a 17-0 lead Sunday, sputtered for a while and finally outlasted the Browns (3-4).

Like so many other victories this season, Sunday’s was keyed by a turnover-free offense, steady special teams and, of course,

a physical defense.

From Ahmad Brooks’ fumble-forcing sack on the Browns’ first series to Patrick Willis’ sack on the Browns’ final possession, the 49ers defense was a menace. Cleveland’s lone touchdown came on a 45-yard catch by Josh Cribbs from Colt McCoy with 6:17 remaining.

“Look up and down the defensive roster, and you see them come off the field, and they’re just pouring everything out of their bucket,” coach Jim Harbaugh said.

Offensively, it was a milestone day for running back Frank Gore. He passed Roger Craig to become the 49ers’ second all-time leading rusher behind the late Joe Perry.

Gore matched a career-high with 31 carries, totaling 134 yards. It was the fourth consecutive game he’s run for a touchdown and eclipsed the 100-yard mark — the longest such streaks of his seven-year NFL career.

But Gore had to share the offensive spotlight with two unlikely heroes: linemen Joe Staley and Isaac Sopoaga, who recorded their first career receptions to set up field goals.

Staley slid out from his left-tackle spot to make a 17-yard catch in the first quarter. “Joe’s very athletic,” Harbaugh said.

Sopoaga, the starting nose tackle who’s made cameos as a blocking back, hauled in an 18-yard reception on third-and-3 in the 49ers’ final series, which yielded a 26-yard insurance field goal from David Akers.

As for the rest of the 49ers’ passing attack, Smith missed an open Michael Crabtree on a few deep throws, but they did hook up for a 2-yard touchdown pass that gave the 49ers a 17-0 lead 1:31 before halftime.

Braylon Edwards had four catches for 42 yards in his first game since injuring his knee Sept. 18 in the 49ers’ lone loss this season, an overtime decision against Dallas.

“I know we’re not throwing the ball as much, but, at the end of the day, we’re 6-1,” tight end Vernon Davis said. “No one’s pouting. Everybody’s just high in character. We can move on and live with it. It’s OK. We’ll see better days.”

Davis injured his right arm after making one of his three catches (for 27 yards) and said the pain was “killing me” as he finished out the game.

Once the clock ran out after a Browns reception at the 49ers’ 18-yard line, Harbaugh and the 49ers’ made a calmer exit than their last win at Detroit.

“Wins are beautiful things,” Harbaugh said. “Guys are working hard for it and earned it. … Not perfect, but beautiful. I’ll take it.”

For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman’s Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers.

In a game that the San Francisco 49ers were expected to win, the Niners scored 20 points to defeat the Cleveland Browns for their first five-game winning streak since 2001 and the team’s first undefeated October since 1997. Now 6-1 on the season and a four game lead over the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, here are five of the many 49ers who helped lead the team to another victory in Week 8.

RB Frank Gore(notes)

Once again the team relied heavily on Gore to lead the team to some success on offense. Not only did Gore go on and rush the ball 31 times for 134 yards on the ground, but he also surpassed 49er great Roger Craig to be second on the all-time franchise rushing list with 7,089 yards. Gore has had over 100 yards and one rushing touchdown in each of the last four games.

WR Michael Crabtree(notes)

Even with the return of Braylon Edwards(notes), Crabtree was once again the primary receiver for Alex Smith. Despite missing an open Crabtree three times during the game and not getting tight end Vernon Davis(notes) (3 catches, 27 yards) more involved in the passing game, Smith and Crabtree provided a solid mix in-between the heavy running attack. Crabtree finished with five catches for 54 yards, including his first touchdown of the season on a 2-yard reception.

OLB Ahmad Brooks(notes)

The forgotten man amongst all the other playmaking linebackers like Patrick Willis(notes), Navorro Bowman(notes), and Aldon Smith(notes), Brooks made his presence felt early on in the game, as he sacked and stripped Colt McCoy(notes) in the Browns’ first drive for the team’s first turnover of the game. Brooks finished the game with one tackle, two sacks, and a forced fumble.

DT Isaac Sopoaga(notes)

Aside from being a force on the defensive line and keeping the Browns to only 66 net rushing yards, Sopoaga was also instrumental on in recovering one of Cleveland’s five fumbles. Add an 18-yard catch on a third down conversion in the fourth quarter and Sopoaga truly had a strong overall game on offense and defense.

LT Joe Staley(notes)

Like Sopoaga, Staley caught his first NFL pass in the first quarter which led to a David Akers(notes) field goal. Initially starting his college career at Central Michigan as a tight end, Staley did not catch a pass in any football games since the position change. Along with his career-first in the passing game, Staley was also instrumental in only allowing one sack on Alex Smith and helping the team finish with 174 rushing yards.

Honorable mentions: ILB Navorro Bowman, S Dashon Goldson(notes), K David Akers, QB Alex Smith, WR Braylon Edwards

Sources:

Cleveland at San Francisco Box Score, Yahoo! Sports

49ers beat Browns 20-10 for 5th straight win, AP

Frank Gore Game Log, Yahoo! Sports

Postgame notes: 49ers 20, Browns 10, Bay Area News Group

Cleveland at San Francisco Play by Play, Yahoo! Sports

Sopoaga, Staley come up big in 49ers’ passing game, CSN Bay Area

More from this contributor:

Fifteen 49ers Penalties Nearly Ruin Team’s Big 25-19 Win Over Lions: Fan’s Take

Five San Francisco 49ers with Great Games in 25-19 Win Over Lions: A Fan’s Take

Top 10 in career scoring leaders among active NFL kickers starting in 2011

Review of the 49ers 2011 draft class five games into the season: A fan’s take

49ers’ York leads youngest majority franchise owners in NFL

Austin Chang is a lifelong football fan, San Francisco 49ers supporter, and contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The San Francisco 49ers continued their hot start to the 2011 season with a win in week eight over the Cleveland Browns. The 49ers defeated the Browns 20-10 and controlled much of the game. The 49ers have proven that their hot start to the season is no fluke and they should be treated as one of the best teams in the NFL this season. This win over the Browns was not pretty but the outcome was never in doubt. The 49ers controlled the game for the entire 60 minutes and fans never felt concerned about the outcome.

The 49ers showed that they were ready for the challenge coming off of their bye week immediately. They forced a fumble on the Browns first drive, scored a touchdown on offense, and never looked back.

The offense was once again led by the powerful running game of Frank Gore(notes) and Kendall Hunter(notes). Gore ran 31 times for 134 yards and scored a touchdown. Alex Smith once again played mistake-free football for the 49ers. The 49ers were helped by the return of wide receiver Braylon Edwards(notes) and got a good game from Michael Crabtree(notes). As a fan, I’m beginning to believe more and more every week that Jim Harbaugh has turned Alex Smith into a competent quarterback.

The 49ers ran for 174 yards and held their opponent to just 66 yards rushing. When you can play defense as well as the 49ers are capable of playing, it will be difficult for anyone to beat them when they control the game on the ground. As a 49er fan, watching this game showed exactly why this team is capable of beating just about anyone. They can control the tempo of the game and prevent opponents from controlling the ball. Their swarming defense had four sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception in the game.

It’s time for 49ers fans to heighten their expectations for the team in 2011. The 49ers have an easy road to winning the NFC West and appear like a lock for the playoffs. If they can continue to play as well as they are, they could have a special season in 2011. It’s obvious to fans that the players are relaxed and having fun this season. When Jim Harbaugh called plays that saw offensive tackle Joe Staley(notes) and defensive lineman Isaac Sopoaga(notes) catch passes and run, the players were seen having fun out on the field. This often leads to wins as well. As a fan, it’s fun to see the team winning again and having fun in the process.

Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and grew up in Northern California rooting for the 49ers teams led by Joe Montana and Steve Young. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Frank Gore charged up the middle with his signature burst for a 2-yard gain, taking another step forward in franchise history.

Gore got that coveted new contract and is playing like his old dominant self. Forget the hip injury that ended his season last November. He’s a new man making his case for a third Pro Bowl and pushing his team toward its first playoff berth in nine years.

Gore ran for both 125-plus yards and a touchdown in a fourth straight game, Michael Crabtree made his first TD reception of the season, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Cleveland Browns 20-10 on Sunday.

Alex Smith completed 15 of 24 passes for 177 yards, leading the first-place 49ers (6-1) to their fifth consecutive victory since an overtime loss to the Cowboys in Week 2.

For Colt McCoy and the Browns, it’s 0-for the Bay Area. They lost two weeks ago in Oakland, then flopped across San Francisco Bay at Candlestick Park.

No handshake flap this time for Jim Harbaugh, either. And no post-bye letdown for his 49ers — even if it was far from flashy.

This marked Harbaugh’s first game since his seconds-long greeting and firm backslap of Lions coach Jim Schwartz following San Francisco’s 25-19 comeback win at Detroit two weeks ago.

Harbaugh says he practiced during the bye week by high-fiving with his toddler daughter. He was polite to fellow first-year coach Pat Shurmur when they met at midfield.

The 49ers — who were made aware by Harbaugh this week that teams were 3-9 after their byes coming into Sunday — are off to their first 6-1 start since 1998 in the days of greats Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens and Steve Young.

Cleveland’s D’Qwell Jackson committed a costly facemask penalty against Gore that would have stopped San Francisco on third down 2 yards short in the waning minutes. David Akers sealed it with his second field goal of the day, a 26-yarder.

Gore already had 103 yards on 19 carries by halftime, then got the other 7 yards he needed to pass Roger Craig and move into second place on the franchise rushing list with 7,089. Gore wound up with 134 yards on a season-high 31 carries.

San Francisco has a five-game winning streak for the first time since 2001 and wrapped up its first unbeaten October since 1997.

The next big task will be ending an eight-year stretch of frustration in which the team hasn’t had a winning season or made the playoffs. The Niners began the day with a comfortable three-game cushion in the division — nicknamed the NFC Worst last season, when Seattle won with a 7-9 record.

Harbaugh’s big brother, John, helped the sibling cause by rallying to beat Arizona 30-27 earlier Sunday.

The banged-up Browns (3-4) improved on special teams but went without their top two running backs. Peyton Hillis didn’t play for the second straight game because of a hamstring injury and Cleveland then lost Montario Hardesty to a calf injury in the first half.

McCoy and Co. managed only Phil Dawson’s 52-yard field goal on the final play of the first half before Josh Cribbs’ 45-yard TD catch with 6:17 to play.

After last week’s lackluster 6-3 win over the Seahawks, it didn’t get much better for the Browns. They failed to reach the end zone for seven quarters before Cribbs scored.

McCoy accounted for four of Cleveland’s five fumbles, one of which was lost and helped set up Gore’s early TD run.

McCoy lost the ball on the second play from scrimmage after he was stripped by Ahmad Brooks. Isaac Sopoaga recovered at the Cleveland 20. Gore ran 4 yards for the first points. Gore rushed for a touchdown in his fourth straight game, the first time in his career he’s done so.

McCoy was sacked four more times after five last week by the Seahawks.

San Francisco’s lopsided first half told the tale far before the clock finally wound down on a crystal-clear, unseasonably warm fall day.

First downs: 15-6. Total yards: 253-93. Time of possession: 18:58-11:02. Rushing yards: 145-25.

Crabtree caught a 2-yard pass to put the Niners ahead 17-0 just before halftime. Dashon Goldson made his first interception of 2011 in the end zone in the third quarter.

Left tackle Joe Staley even was in on the action, catching a 17-yard pass from Smith for a first down midway through the first quarter for his first career reception. He jumped up in celebration and signaled the first down by emphatically pointing down field with both hands. Sopoaga had an 18-yard reception late against the Browns’ fourth-ranked defense.

49ers wideout Braylon Edwards returned against his former club in his first action since right knee surgery after getting hurt against the Cowboys. He had four catches.