It’s usually doom and gloom after a loss. The finger-pointing among fans is non-stop, the playoffs shouldn’t be discussed, and somebody needs to be fired. Heading into Week 11, the San Francisco 49ers are on the outside looking in of the NFC playoff picture and sit third in the NFC West standings.
Let’s ignore the playoffs —well, kinda —and speculate on how many games the 49ers will win for the rest of the season. Remember, this is the NFL. The Packers just lost to the Panthers two weeks ago. The Bills
lost to the Dolphins last week. Anything can happen in a sport marked by week-to-week parity.
Here’s a look at the remaining schedule:
@ Cardinals
vs. Panthers
@ Browns
vs. Titans
@ Colts
vs. Bears
vs. Seahawks
Now let’s make some predictions.
@ Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett is not the type of quarterback who’ll get over on Robert Saleh, even among a billion injuries. His lack of mobility and deliberate processing ability make for a favorable matchup. When targeting players like Marvin Harrison Jr., Brissett will stare him down, making it easy on the defense.
The Cardinals could give San Francisco some problems up front. The addition of rookie Walter Nolen made a difference in Week 9. Not so much in Week 10. Still, Mac Jones was under pressure on 37 percent of his dropbacks in Week 3, and that was without Nolen.
The counter to that would be the Niners having a healthier version of Dominick Puni, and the offensive line has been much better the past two weeks, regardless of whether Spencer Burford or Ben Bartch were in the lineup.
This is a game the 49ers should win. The Cardinals don’t have a homefield advantage or the type of offense that can outpace Kyle Shanahan’s.
vs. Panthers
Even the 49ers’ pass rush has an opportunity to look competent against the Panthers. To give you an idea of how Bryce Young has fared this season, he has one passing game where he threw for over 200 yards. That came against the Cardinals in a game where they were down a couple of touchdowns at halftime. Young hasn’t cleared 150 yards in his previous three games. Carolina couldn’t score against the Jets or the Saints.
If the 49ers lose to Carolina, they have no business being in the postseason.
@ Browns
We just saw Cleveland lose a game where the quarterback threw for 54 yards. That’s what happens when you allow two special teams touchdowns. Dillon Gabriel was somehow drafted in the third round. He has not completed a pass over 20 yards. He’s completing 34 percent of his passes beyond ten yards. This should be a game where Saleh and the defense continue to build their confidence. Could this be a game where Shedeur Sanders is playing?
Regardless if the 49ers lose to Cleveland, they have no business being in the postseason.
vs. Titans
Three of the worst projected teams heading into 2025 are on the schedule in three consecutive games for the Niners. The 49ers will get the Titans at home off the bye. The No. 1 overall pick has been sacked at least four times four games in a row. It’s another game where San Francisco should be able to ride the momentum built up from previous games and take advantage of a rookie quarterback. The Titans are a bottom three offense.
If the 49ers lose to Tennessee, they have no business being in the postseason.
Sense the theme? You have to beat the opponents you’re supposed to. It’s imperative for the 49ers to go at least 3-1 over the next four games. I’m not sure there’s an excuse, for a playoff team, to lose any of the four games.
@ Colts
The Colts are running away with the AFC South thanks in large part to the wizardy of Shane Steichen. The Colts are comfortably the best offense in schedule-adjusted efficiency. They have the type of weapons to give any defense issues.
Jonathan Taylor is in MVP talks Tyler Warren and Alec Pierce are perfect scheme fits. Daniel Jones doesn’t have to do much, just don’t be the reason the Colts lose. For the most part, it’s worked out.
This’ll be a primetime game where both offenses shine. But it’s hard to imagine the 49ers getting enough stops against an elite scheme and one of the best play-callers in the sport. It’ll be a fun game, but the Niners come up short. I think. I will say, the Colts have a soft schedule and barely beat the Cardinals, while losing to the Rams.
vs. Bears
Caleb Williams will make throws during the game that’ll drop your jaw. But this is a defense where Shanahan, potentially with Brandon Aiyuk back by this point, should have Chicago chasing its tail. It’s hard to buy into the Bears being a contender, and and this will come a week after they face the Packers for the second time in three weeks. The 49ers are catching Chicago off their Super Bowl, which bodes well for the home team. I think the 49ers roll here.
vs. Seahawks
In this hypothetical, the 49ers enter Week 18 with 11 wins. This would undoubtedly be the best coaching job of Shanahan’s career. Reaching double-digit wins might seem far-fetched, based on the product we’ve seen to date. But the schedule allows for the 49ers to find their footing defensively, while the offense gets its best players back.
They’re going to need those players at home against Seattle. This game should be for playoff positioning, and likely what propels the Seahawks to a bye. From what I’ve seen from Seattle, they’re going to humble the Rams next week and give the 49ers a reality check in this game as they exact revenge from Week 1.
The good news is, 11 wins should be plenty to make the playoffs, which is all you can ask for.
