Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws a move in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the second half in Tremendous Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities In case you’re actually cool, you get to name San Francisco’s soccer group the Niners.
It’s these privileged bandwagoners who made reservations for New Orleans in February, believing their guys will run the desk when the time comes.
That leaves us uncool of us to concoct 9 causes this isn’t going to occur.
1. They’re 5-4.
Sorry to steer off right here with Shohei Ohtani, however saying a 5-4 group whose wins have come over the Jets, Patriots, Seahawks, Cowboys and Buccaneers is Tremendous Bowl-bound delivers a primary pitch down the center. If the playoffs began in the present day, the 49ers could be packing for an extended trip. They aren’t within the postseason area as of the beginning of Week 11. Neither are any of the 5 groups they’ve crushed. That’s the truth.
Alas, the playoffs are gentle years away, and there’s time to make up floor. The issue is the 49ers have performed three would-be playoff groups to date and have misplaced to all three. At that fee, they’ll lose to the Packers, Payments, Lions and Cardinals, leaving them 9-8. So, what they are saying: You might be what you’re. And on this case, they really are what they’re: 5-4.
2. This isn’t the NFC South.
Positive, the 49ers would possibly win the rematch with the first-place Cardinals. However additionally they might lose this week to the Seahawks and once more to the Rams subsequent month. The actual fact is, there aren’t any softies within the NFC West anymore.
Alas, there aren’t any powers both. Did I point out that the Cardinals at present occupy the catbird seat? So going 3-0 in opposition to the West the remainder of the best way is sort of doable. And, sadly, it’s equally doable for every of the opposite three regional rivals.
3. They’ve performed to the extent of the competitors.
Nov 10, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; San Francisco 49ers huge receiver Ricky Pearsall (14) rating a landing previous Tampa Bay Buccaneers security Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) within the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photographs Coming off a comparatively simple win over the Cowboys, adopted by a bye, the 49ers had momentum and followers dialing up the reservations desk on the Bourbon Avenue Biltmore. A cakewalk over a Tampa Bay group with none receivers, one other win over a Seahawks group they’ve already crushed, and …
Have you ever been paying consideration? This was a group that misplaced to a Minnesota squad nonetheless asking itself: Are we critically beginning Sam Darnold at quarterback? They blew leads in opposition to the Rams and Cardinals, then nearly did the identical in opposition to a reeling Cowboys bunch. After they struggled to carry off Baker & The Cream Puffs, it was one more reminder that, thank goodness, this wasn’t an actual group.
4. The Packers, Eagles and Lions. Oh my.
If the 49ers win the division, they’ll get one playoff recreation at residence. However that would very simply be in opposition to the Packers, who gave the house group suits final January even when the 49ers had been a official contender.
And we’re simply getting began. There’s no method the 49ers are catching both the Lions or Eagles within the standings, which plots a playoff map the place they fly to Philly within the ice to face a vastly superior protection. Then, in the event that they’re fortunate, they get to retrace their flight sample to Detroit per week later to see a way more highly effective offense. The possibilities of beating the Packers, Eagles and Lions in succession? Much less seemingly than a Mike Tyson retirement anytime quickly.
5. They’re not getting their cash’s price.
Sep 29, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa (97) walks off the sector after the sport in opposition to the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Photographs No group within the NFL is extra top-heavy in costly expertise than the 49ers. However the uncompromising NFL wage cap assures that for each top-of-the-market contract, there are 5 bottom-of-the-market offers, and that’s why few groups try to take this path to glory.
Take into consideration the Boston Celtics and picture in the event that they needed to play 11 guys at a time. That’s exhausting to do while you solely have six not named Luke Corn Nut or the like. Each opponent appears to assault the 49ers in another way, and it’s simple to see why. They’ve paid to dig themselves numerous holes.
6. They’re feeling the warmth.
The star wideout goes at it with the lengthy snapper. Yikes.
I get the place Deebo Samuel was coming from. On the third play of the sport in Tampa, Kyle Shanahan known as in a play. It gave the impression of: Ship Deebo round left finish. I don’t care how badly his ribs are hurting; we have to rating on this drive. Pow. However he positive factors 12, so Shanahan is proud.
The group misses Brandon Aiyuk’s across-the-middle route working. They couldn’t afford to import an in-traffic pass-catcher on the deadline, so whereas Jauan Jennings hugs the sidelines as Aiyuk’s substitute, breath-struggling Samuel and gimpy George Kittle get extra safety-targeting routes. You’ll be able to’t lash out in ache on the boss, so some man named Pepper will get peppered.
7. The group is getting more healthy … or is it?
Oct 6, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers working again Christian McCaffrey (23) walks on the sector earlier than the sport in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Photographs After a much-needed bye, Samuel returned with sore ribs and Nick Bosa with a painful hip. They wanted extra day off, however Shanahan wanted extra wins. So that they braved the Florida warmth… and watched as Kittle’s overuse obtained him hamstrung.
And Christian McCaffrey? The place a cameo might need been the physician’s orders in his long-awaited season debut, he as an alternative obtained 19 touches — the soccer equal of throwing eight innings regardless of a pitch depend.
Since Shanahan is unwilling to take the foot off the pedal, what the 49ers want proper now’s a rivalry recreation. The place are they while you want them? Carry the Raiders again to the Bay Space, let everybody coast via a four-touchdown win, and certainly you present up for this week’s Seahawks recreation with a lighter harm report. However even Mark Davis appears to hate the Niners.
8. Right here’s the kicker: It really is the kicker’s fault.
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers place kicker Jake Moody (4) kicks a area objective in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the first half in Tremendous Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities The 49ers have misplaced confidence in kicker Jake Moody, and rightfully so. They caught a break when Moody obtained injured earlier within the 12 months, then amongst 10,000 faculty children being groomed underneath the strain of the ESPN Faculty GameDay highlight, they one way or the other couldn’t discover anybody higher. So right here we had been once more in Tampa, the place three flubbed area targets almost despatched the 49ers residence with a shedding document.
Chances are high Moody should make an enormous one in opposition to the Eagles, Lions or within the Tremendous Bowl. However he’s not even a certain factor on PATs anymore. I’d hate to be the lengthy snapper, as a result of chances are high they’ll gang up on him subsequent time.
9. The $60 million man isn’t the reply.
The 49ers have a top-10 quarterback, one that can begin getting paid like one subsequent season. It gained’t matter if he wins a Tremendous Bowl this February or not.
That’s a break for Brock Purdy, as a result of he’s not flying residence with the trophy. Because the 49ers know full properly, the group with the higher quarterback often wins the Tremendous Bowl. And pretty much as good as Purdy is, he doesn’t measure as much as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, the AFC’s three main males. A kind of three seemingly goes to New Orleans. Good luck, Jared Goff.