The San Francisco 49ers return to the friendly confines of Levi's Stadium as they face the Cincinnati Bengals having endured a difficult two weeks on the road.

San Francisco was 5-0 when the Niners left the field in their previous game at their home stadium, a 42-10 shellacking of the Dallas Cowboys. Since then, they have suffered back-to-back heartbreaking losses to the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings on the road.

That has left plenty of questions about a team many were penciling in for the Super Bowl after Week 5, and their task this week gets no easier against a Bengals team coming off the bye week with momentum after improving to 3-3 with two successive wins.

Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) at San Francisco 49ers (5-2)
Date: Sunday, October 29
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Levi's Stadium/Santa Clara, CA
Betting odds: 49ers -5, Over/Under 43.5
How to watch on TV: CBS
Streaming: FuboTV, YouTube TV, Network apps, etc.
Radio: KNBR 680 AM / 104.5 FM, 107.7 FM “The Bone" / SacTown Sports 1140AM

Will Trent Williams play?

The biggest question of the week for the 49ers was answered on Saturday when quarterback Brock Purdy cleared concussion protocol, giving him the green light to start against Cincinnati.

But Purdy's chances of getting the 49ers back on track will be greatly improved if All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams is back in the lineup. Williams missed the loss to the Vikings with an ankle injury.

San Francisco's offensive line performed poorly without Williams in Minnesota and the 49ers will likely need him back if their attack is to perform at its devastating best. Williams barely practiced this week but was listed as questionable, with Kyle Shanahan saying he "could go right until kickoff".

In other words, Williams is a game-time decision, and it's a call that could be a decisive one in this compelling matchup.

Can Wilks answer his critics?

The 49er defense endured its worst performance of the season in the defeat to the Vikings, giving up 452 yards of total offense while failing to lay a glove on Kirk Cousins.

Coordinator Steve Wilks was the primary recipient of criticism in the wake of that showing, chiefly for a zero blitz call at the end of the first half, which backfired and resulted in a touchdown that put the Vikings up 16-7.

Wilks has accepted responsibility for that mistake and now has to figure out a plan to slow down Joe Burrow and answer his critics with a defensive performance that helps the Niners get to 6-2. Given Burrow's proficiency against the blitz, his approach is unlikely to include a heavy dose of extra rushers.

3 players to watch

• QB Brock Purdy: Cleared from the concussion protocol after taking a shot to the head late in the fourth quarter, Purdy is under huge pressure to prove he can get the Niners over the line against a top-tier opponent after successive games in which San Francisco failed to finish the job.
• RB Christian McCaffrey: McCaffrey scored both of the Niners' touchdowns against Minnesota despite suffering an oblique injury a week earlier. Should he find the endzone again, he will tie the all-time record for consecutive games with a touchdown (including postseason) set by Lenny Moore (17).
• DE Nick Bosa: The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has only 2.5 sacks this season but has still been a wrecking ball in terms of creating pressure. His 35 pressures are tied for the fourth-most among edge rushers, per Pro Football Focus. Against good friend Burrow, this week would mark an ideal time for him to start turning those pressures into takedowns.

More 49ers news ahead of the game

• The 49ers' hopes of a Week 8 bounce back may rest on Trent Williams' ankle

• Kyle Shanahan and Steve Wilks share blame for costly blitz in 49ers' loss to Vikings

San Francisco 49ers-Cincinnati Bengals broadcast map: Will you be able to watch on TV?

Most of the country will get the game.