Can the 49ers Get Back on Top of the NFC?

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By: Vyom Dixit

It’s fall again, and we’re officially 3 weeks into the NFL season! We opened up the season on September 4th with the Dallas Cowboys going on the road to play against the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles won 24-20.  There have been some great games played so far, such as the Baltimore Ravens going on the road against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills won 41-40 in a crazy 22-point comeback in the 4th quarter. 

The 49ers last year finished the season with a record of 6-11. There were lots of issues, especially on defense, the offensive line, and injuries. The 49ers did fix the defense by bringing back former New York Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh as the defensive coordinator and got some good picks in the 2025 NFL draft. In the draft, they had 11 total picks out of 7 rounds. In the first round, the 49ers picked defensive end Mykel Williams from Georgia. In the second round, they picked defensive tackle Alfred Collins from Texas. In the third round, they had two draft picks and picked linebacker Nick Martin from Oklahoma State and cornerback Upton Stout from Western Kentucky. They had another two picks in the fourth and fifth rounds. In the fourth round, they picked defensive tackle CJ West from Indiana and wide receiver Jordan Watkins from Ole Miss. In the fifth round, they drafted running back Jordan James from Oregon and safety Marques Sigle. In the seventh and final round, they had three picks. They picked quarterback Kurtis Bourke from Indiana, left guard Connor Colby from Iowa, and last but not least, wide receiver Junior Bergen from Montana.

From seeing their first few games, the 49ers’ defense is better than last season. They can create turnovers, force the other team to punt, and most importantly, can make stops when it really matters, like near the end of the game. Running back Christian McCaffrey looks healthy, and he can have a great comeback season after not playing much due to injuries last year. A huge concern that I have this year is injuries. Last season, the 49ers were one of the most injured teams, and that really affected their season and may be a problem again. Star tight end George Kittle is out with a hamstring injury for 3-5 weeks, quarterback Brock Purdy is out with a turf toe injury for 2-5 weeks, and defensive end Nick Bosa is out for the season with a torn ACL. If the 49ers can’t stay healthy, then it’ll be the same story as last season, where they won’t do well because players can’t stay healthy.  Another concern is the offensive line. They were fine in run blocking, finishing 11th in the league, but in pass blocking, they finished 20th. Left tackle Trent Williams is putting this offensive line on his back. He’s 37 years old and is getting injured quite a bit, so who knows how much he has left in the tank. In the offseason, the 49ers should have focused a lot more on fixing the offensive line. The offensive line must show up this year because otherwise, Brock Purdy is going to have trouble dealing with the pass rush all game long.  

Week 4 (Sept 28) vs Jacksonville Jaguars

This will be a cool game. The 49ers will be playing against rookie wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter from Colorado. He’s a two-way player and won the Heisman Trophy (The College Football version of the MVP). Going into this game, the 49ers need to find a way to stop the Jaguars’ star wide receiver, Brian Thomas Jr. Last season as a rookie, he had 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches. Impressively, he also managed to finish third in receiving yards last season, considering that the Jaguars finished twenty-fourth in total passing yards last season. 

Another player to keep an eye on is running back Travis Etienne. He did have a down year last season, but he did rush for over 1,000 yards in the two earlier seasons. If the 49ers can stop Brian Thomas Jr. and maintain control of the run game, they are in a good position to win. 

On the offensive side, the 49ers have lots of opportunities. The Jaguars’ defense really struggled last year. They had 4,605 allowed the most total passing yards and allowed the eighth-most total rushing yards. If these problems continue this season, the 49ers can do a mix of running and passing the football. 

My final prediction is the 49ers winning 31-14. 

Week 5 (Oct 2) at Los Angeles Rams

In this game, the 49ers need to focus a lot on pass defense. The Rams have two star wide receivers, Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Stopping them is not going to be easy because if you stop one, you still have the other to worry about. The Rams finished ninth in total passing yards last year. Davante Adams, who has consistently gotten 1,000 yards for a while now, and Puca Nacua, entering year three, did have a little bit of a sophomore slump last year, but have lots of potential and are beginning to make a name for themselves. 

Another player they have to worry about is quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is still very good and consistent at the age of thirty-seven. Last season, he had 3,762 passing yards and passed for 20 touchdowns and threw eight interceptions. If the 49ers want to slow down the offense, they need to bring pressure to the offensive line and get to Stafford. Stafford isn’t considered a mobile quarterback, so rookie defensive end Mykel Williams and the rest of the defensive line can hopefully apply pressure and sack him. 

Offensively, the 49ers could very well use the pass game or the run game. Last season, the Rams weren’t good at defending either. They finished tenth in total passing yards allowed and allowed the eleventh most total rushing yards last season. So the 49ers can do a mix of both.

This is a huge rivalry game, and it will be a close one, but I believe the Rams will take this one 24-21. 

Week 6 (Oct 12) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is a rematch game from last year, and the 49ers won 23-20. I’m sure the Buccaneers want some revenge. The star wide receiver, Mike Evans, is one of the most consistent wide receivers in the league. He’s had at least 1,000 receiving yards for each of his eleven seasons. Fun fact, he is also tied with the 49ers’ legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice for most 1,000-yard seasons. Baker Mayfield, the quarterback for the Buccaneers, is also going to be a problem. He can keep plays alive, so the 49ers need to close the gaps so he can’t escape the pocket. 

Offensively, the 49ers are going to have a hard time running the ball, but I do think they can exploit the passing game. Last season, the Buccaneers had the fourth-fewest total rushing yards allowed. On the pass defense side, they were not good. The Buccaneers last season allowed 4,464 passing yards, which was the third most. If I was the 49ers, I would pass the ball most of the time. If the same struggles from last year show this season, the Buccaneers’ defense is going to have a hard time defending that. 

Like last year, the game will be close and the 49ers will win it 28-24. 

Week 7 (Oct 19) vs Atlanta Falcons

In this game, the 49ers will not just have to worry about the pass game but the run game as well. In the run game, they’ll have to slow down star running back Bijan Robinson, who is entering year three and has established himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL. Last season, he rushed for 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns. In the passing game, they have to cover the Falcons’ star wide receiver Drake London, who had 1,271 receiving yards last year. Like Bijan Robinson, he’s also establishing himself. The Falcons’ quarterback, Michael Penix Jr, is also going to be a problem. He started playing a little later last season, but he showed some flashes of being a top quarterback in the NFL. 

Offensively, the 49ers should do a mix of running and passing the ball. The Falcons are okay at defense. Last season, they allowed 4,004 passing yards and 2,051 rushing yards. If running back Christian McCaffrey gets going, the 49ers can have a good game. 

Like the past few games, it will be close, but the 49ers will come out on top 20-17.  

Week 8 (Oct 26) at Houston Texans 

This game will be all about the 49ers putting pressure on the Texans’ offensive line. The Texans’ offensive line was one of the worst last season. Last season, their offensive line allowed forty-nine sacks. If you do the math, that’s almost three per game. I do believe that the 49ers’ defensive line can get to Texans’ star quarterback CJ Stroud and create some problems. The defense needs to keep CJ Stroud locked in the pocket so he can’t use his legs to extend the play and make something happen. The 49ers might have to worry about the run defense. Last year, the Texans were mediocre with the run game, with 1909 rushing yards, but now with Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb, who are some of the best running backs, it could change the game. Same with the pass game, the Texans were mediocre with 3,952 passing yards last season. 

CJ Stroud is definitely going to be a problem. He’s entering his third season, and he’s in the conversation for being one of the top quarterbacks. Last season, he threw for 3,727 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns. He did have a bit of a sophomore slump last season, but he still put up some great numbers. Another problem with the Texans’ offense is wide receiver Nico Collins. Ever since CJ Stroud got drafted to the team in 2023, Nico Collins has looked like one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. For the past two seasons, he’s had over 1,000 receiving yards. 

The 49ers are going to have a hard time passing the ball, and the same with running the ball. The Texans allowed 3,753 passing yards and finished with the 7th fewest passing yards, along with allowing 1,938 rushing yards, which was just outside the top 10 of fewest total rushing yards allowed. If I were the 49ers, I’d do a mix of running and passing the ball. Sticking to one of them for most of the game is not going to work if they’re good at defending each other.

I think this will be a really good game. Even with the Texans having a bad offensive line, I do think they’ll sneak out with the win and beat the 49ers 28-24. 

Week 9 (Nov 2) at New York Giants

This is a must-win for the 49ers, not because the Giants are a good team, but because the Giants are a rebuilding team. They finished the season last year with 3 wins and 14 losses. The 49ers can really exploit them in the run game. The Giants were not good at all at defending the run, allowing 2,316 rushing yards. On offense, the Giants had 3,521 total passing yards, which was one of the worst in the league. In the run game, they had 1,783 rushing yards, which is also one of the worst in the league. Their only real threat is their star wide receiver, Malik Nabers, who is entering his second season. He did get over 1,000 receiving yards, but a wide receiver can only do so much.

The 49ers can do a mix of the run game and the pass game. If the same struggles for the Giants’ defense show from last season, the 49ers are going to have some fun.

This game is going to be a blowout, and the 49ers are winning 31-7.

Week 10 (Nov 9) vs Los Angeles Rams

This is a huge rivalry game, and I predicted that the 49ers’ first game against the Rams would be a loss. This time it will be different. The 49ers are not going to let the Rams beat them in both games twice in a row. I got the 49ers winning 27-21. 

Week 11 (Nov 16) at Arizona Cardinals

Another divisional rivalry game! The Cardinals are a very good team when it comes to running the football. They had 2,451 total rushing yards, which was 7th in the league last year. In the passing game, the Cardinals were mediocre. They had 3,859 total passing yards. Their tight end, Trey McBride, has just started to make a name for himself. He had 1,146 receiving yards, and I think he’s only going to get better. 

The Cardinals’ quarterback, Kyler Murray, may be a problem. The reason I say this is that he’s not the most consistent quarterback. There are games where he plays well and loses mainly because he gets outplayed by the other team’s quarterback, but there are some games where he just plays badly. His scrambling ability is very good, and the 49ers’ defense needs to keep that in check. 

Offensively, the 49ers are going to have a hard time passing the ball. The Cardinals allowed 3,930 total passing yards, and they also drafted the best cornerback in this draft, Will Johnson from Michigan. The Cardinals’ run defense is also pretty good. They allowed 2,149 total rushing yards. In my opinion, the 49ers should stick with the run game more and let Christian McCaffrey do his thing. 

An important divisional game, and I do think the Cardinals will put up a fight, but I got the 49ers winning 34-24. 

Week 12 (Nov 24) vs Carolina Panthers

This is another must-win for the 49ers. The Carolina Panthers are also a rebuilding team, but may have found their franchise quarterback in Bryce Young, by how he played in the latter parts of last season. The Panthers did get a top wide receiver in the 2025 NFL draft in Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona. For Bryce Young, this is year three. From being the number one pick in the 2023 NFL draft to potentially being a huge draft bust, the pressure is on for him. 

The Panthers had the worst rush defense last season, allowing over 3,000 total rushing yards. If the 49ers give the ball to Christian McCaffrey, he can put up some great numbers. The pass defense last season was also not great. They allowed 4,043 total passing yards. If these struggles show this season, the 49ers offense is going to destroy this Panthers defense. 

Defensively, the 49ers do not have to worry at all. The Panthers had the second fewest total passing yards with 3,411 and 1,878 total rushing yards, which is mediocre. The 49ers need to put quarterback Bryce Young under pressure and make him overthink his decisions.

I think this game should be a good win for the 49ers, and I have them winning 17-38. 

Week 13 (Nov 30) at Cleveland Browns

Like the Panthers and Giants, the Browns are also rebuilding their team, mainly on their offense. Their defense is pretty solid. They have the best defensive end, Myles Garrett, and a pretty solid secondary (cornerbacks and safeties). Last season, they allowed 3,878 total passing yards, and the rushing defense was mediocre, with 2,205 total rushing yards allowed.
The Browns’ starting quarterback is Joe Flacco, who signed with them this offseason. He is good, but he’s 40 years old and doesn’t have a lot left in the tank. He’s not a bad quarterback in my opinion. Last year, he didn’t play much, but he did throw for 1,761 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. The Browns had 3,879 total passing yards, which was close to the top ten of lowest total passing yards, and the run game was even lower with 1,608 total rushing yards.

Defensively the 49ers should make Joe Flacco get tired. Like I said earlier, he’s 40 years old and doesn’t have a lot left. Offensively, the 49ers should run the ball more. I do think Christian McCaffrey can have a huge game. 

I think this should be an easy win for the 49ers, and I have them winning 35-10. 

Week 14 (Bye Week) 

A bye week is a rest week for the team, so they won’t play a game that week. 

Week 15 (Dec 14) vs Tennessee Titans 

This will be another cool game to see. The 49ers will be playing against the number one pick in the last draft, quarterback Cam Ward from the University of Miami. The Titans last year finished 3-14 and are definitely trying to rebuild. Cam Ward has lots of potential, in my opinion, and can easily be the franchise quarterback the Titans have been hoping for. 

The Titans do not have a good passing offense. Last year, they had 3,621 total passing yards and 1,855 total rushing yards, which is horrible. The 49ers’ defense is going to absolutely rock this offense. They are going to make Cam Ward feel uncomfortable and force him to make bad mistakes. 

The 49ers, in my opinion, should not pass the ball and stick with the run game. The Titans allowed the least amount of total passing yards last season, with 3,216 yards. The run defense, on the other hand, is not good at all. They allowed the 7th most total rushing yards with 2,277 yards. I think the Titans will have a hard time keeping up with Christian McCaffrey and getting him to the ground.

The Titans with Cam Ward have got a bright future ahead of them, but they’re a young team and not the most experienced. I got the 49ers winning 28-10.

Week 16 (Dec 22) at Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are a very mediocre team. They finished with a 9-8 record last season and just missed the playoffs. They’ve lost their quarterback, Anthony Richardson, due to injury for a while, and now will have Daniel Jones at quarterback, which is not very good. Last season on the Giants, he threw for 2,070 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. 

On defense, the 49ers need to focus on star running back Jonathan Taylor. He rushed for 2,331 yards.  The Colts had a total of 2,241 rushing yards, which was in the top 10 last year. In the passing game, they were horrible. They were near the bottom with 3,599 total passing yards. If I were the 49ers, I would stick to stopping the run game.

On offense, the 49ers should pass the ball to guys like tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The Colts’ pass defense is one of the worst. They allowed 4,142 total passing yards. Their rush defense is also not great, and they allowed 2,241 total rushing yards. I think they could also run the ball well, but I would stick with passing. 

This is another guaranteed win, and I got the 49ers winning 24-10. 

Week 17 (Dec 28) vs Chicago Bears

This will be a rematch from last season, and the 49ers won 38-13. The Bears are a very exciting team to see this season because they have a new head coach, Ben Johnson. The Bears also have Caleb Williams as their quarterback, who is entering year two. Last season, he played even when the team was in a bad situation. There were lots of issues with the team because their coach got fired midseason. He threw for 3,541 total passing yards and 20 touchdowns. 

The Bears’ last season was not good in passing yards. They had a total of 3,552 passing yards, which was near the bottom in the NFL. In the run game, they had 1,734 total rushing yards, which was also near the bottom. I do think that the 49ers’ defense needs to put as much pressure on Caleb Williams as they can. He can extend plays a lot and very well, which will be a problem, so the 49ers should keep him in the pocket as much as possible. 

Offensively, the 49ers should focus more on the run game. The Bears’ pass defense is good and finished just outside the top 10 in total passing yards allowed with 3,959. Their rush defense was not good at all, allowing 2,317, which was the fourth most. The 49ers should give Christian McCaffrey the ball most of the time and only pass when really needed. 

I think the Bears will put up a good fight, but it won’t be enough. I got the 49ers winning 31-24. 

Week 18 (Jan 4) vs Seattle Seahawks 

This is the last game of the season, and it’s a big divisional rivalry game! Sam Darnold, the Seahawks’ new quarterback, just had an amazing year with the Vikings last season. He threw for 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns.  

The Seahawks last season were 5th in the league in total passing yards with 4,379 yards. They have a top wide receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had 1,130 receiving yards last season. The Seahawks’ run offense, on the other hand, is not good. They had 1,627 yards, which was near the bottom of the NFL last season. The defensive game plan should be to keep quarterback Sam Darnold in the pocket. Do not let him get out and have a chance to extend the play. They also need to try to limit Sam Darnold’s options to throw to as well. If they do this, then they can easily win. 

Offensively, the 49ers can either pass the ball or run the ball. I think it really depends on what it is and the situation. The Seahawks have an okay pass defense. Last year, they allowed 3,930 total passing yards. Same case with their run defense. They allowed 2,053 total rushing yards. Overall, the 49ers can really do a mix of things here, and it’ll be fun to see.

Last game of the season, a huge rivalry game, so the stakes are high. I got the 49ers winning 27-23. 

My final record for the 49ers is 15-2, which could easily give them the number one seed in the NFC and make the playoffs. It’ll be really awesome to see since we were last in the NFC West last season, and now we’re first. I do think they can make a very good run in the playoffs, but let’s see if they do it this season.

Works Cited
NFL.com