The San Francisco 49ers currently have nine wins through 13 games. They are right around where most people predicted them based on the preseason schedule. Of course, it’s been a wild ride along the way
with many unexpected turns and unfortunate injuries. Nevertheless, the team is at over 90 percent to make the playoffs with four games to go.
How many games will the Niners win this season? Let’s walk through each of the remaining four games to see.
49ers vs. Titans
The Titans have two wins all season. One was a miraculous comeback against the Arizona Cardinals, where they were down 21-3 and outscored Arizona 16-0 in the fourth quarter. The other was last week, when the Titans had a one-play 65-yard touchdown and a blocked punt, yet still got outgained by the Browns 412-292.
Now might be a good time to highlight that Kyle Shanahan’s teams have a win percentage of over 69 percent after the bye week. Facing Tennessee, a team that has lost by double digits six times this season, is a favorable matchup and should allow the Niners to continue building on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: Win
49ers @ Colts
Not only could the 49ers face a 44-year-old quarterback, but they could get Indianapolis without Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward. Mooney was placed on the Injured Reserve on Wednesday morning after suffering another concussion. The Colts’ defense is middle of the pack against the run and the pass. They held the Rams to 20 early in the season. Only three teams have scored more than 24 points in a game.
The offense is excellent under Shane Steichen, who is a masterful play-caller. It helps when you can turn around and hand it to Jonathan Taylor, but Steichen has some brilliant schemes that will challenge the 49ers’ defense.
They’ve played the 21st-toughest schedule. That’s another advantage for the 49ers, who are in the top five in strength of schedule. Will Robert Saleh trust his players in coverage to put pressure on Philip Rivers and speed him up? The Colts have some dangerous weapons, so it may be pick-your-poison.
The Colts are trending in the wrong direction, and they have been for the past five weeks. The questions at cornerback and the lack of pass rush for them favor the 49ers.
Prediction: Win
49ers vs. Bears
The Bears’ second-half performance against the Packers last week was as impressive as it gets. This Sunday Night Football matchup has the makings of being the game of the year in the NFC. Both teams will be hungry and needing a win for playoff purposes.
Both of these are top-10 offenses. The Bears have a creative running game with a dominant offensive line that gets plenty of push. Caleb Williams’ ability to extend plays will be a headache all night. It could be another situation where Saleh’s defense needs to be great in the red zone.
What may surprise some is that the Bears are statistically worse than the 49ers defensively. Yes, even against the run. So, Shanahan can be balanced and play keep away. It should be a Christian McCaffrey game, with the Bears ranking 25th in defending passes against running backs. Oh, and they’re 20th at defending tight ends.
Where the 49ers have the advantage, outside of the matchup, is the scheduling spot. The Bears will come off a revenge game against the Packers, where they are likely to pour every ounce of emotion they have into winning. And after the Niners, they get the Lions. It’s so hard to get up for that many games in a row, and I think the Niners catch Chicago as flat as a team fighting for a playoff spot can be.
Prediction: Win
49ers vs. Seahawks
The ramifications for Week 18 will be fascinating. Both teams could be playing for the No. 1 seed if the Rams lose twice. Both teams could jockey for the fifth and sixth seed. Neither team wants to lose to their rival.
Seattle will be looking for payback from Week 1. This will be the best defense the 49ers have faced since the Texans. I think Seattle, having played a potent offense like the Rams’ two weeks earlier, will benefit from it in Week 18.
The common talking point when you bring up the Seahawks is Sam Darnold. Yet, all season, we’ve seen how good they are in every other facet and how little Darnold needs to do, relative to most other playoff quarterbacks.
I’d expect another rock fight like Week 1, where the road team prevails.
Prediction: Loss
How many wins do you see the 49ers ending up with this season?
