The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the strongest teams in the NFL for the last five seasons. Their 2023 campaign was no exception as the team looked destined to win a championship throughout the year, finishing as the number one team in the NFC with a record of 12-5 and receiving a first-round bye. The team had the third-ranked offense scoring an average of 28.9 points per game and defense allowing an average of just 17.5 points per game.
Entering the playoffs, the 49ers were expected the breeze through to the championship, but this could not be further from the truth. The 49ers first faced off with the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional round. The 49ers were heavily favored coming into this game as they had the much stronger team on paper and faced a young Packers team, led by an unproven quarterback in Jordan Love. The Packers had a 7-point lead entering the 4th quarter and seemed to have completed the upset when the 49ers responded by scoring 10 unanswered points to come away with the victory 24-21.
The NFC championship was very similar to the divisional round as the 49ers faced the Detroit Lions in a hard-fought battle for a trip to the Super Bowl. Entering halftime, the Lions held a commanding 24-7 lead and seemed to have an easy victory in their grasp, but the 49ers once again found the strength to rally and score 27 points in the second half. The final score was 34-31, and San Francisco would move on to the Super Bowl.
In 2020, the 49ers would take on the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. San Francisco fans came away disappointed, as the Chiefs won that game 31-20. These two teams faced each other in the 2024 game. The 49ers had not been back since that game in 2020. The game went to overtime as the score was tied 19-19. In overtime, the 49ers drove down the nine-yard line but had to settle for a field goal. This allowed the Chiefs to win the game with a touchdown. The Chiefs marched down the field and won the Super Bowl with a touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman Jr.
Despite the heartbreaking end to the 49ers season, they still have an impressive roster for 2024, with eight Pro Bowl players returning for the 2024 season. The team's quarterback, Brock Purdy, stands out as the driving force for the team. Purdy was selected with the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft, earning the title of “Mr. Irrelevant” and was given little chance to succeed in the NFL. He slowly blossomed into a star taking the team to multiple NFC Championships and a superbowl. In the 2023 season, he threw for over 4000 yards, 31 touchdowns to 11 interceptions and was selected to participate in the Pro Bowl. Other top contributors were Offensive Player of the Year Christain McCaffrey and All-Pro Linebacker Fred Warner. McCaffrey totaled over 2000 total yards and 21 touchdowns and Warner totaled 132 tackles in the 2023 season.
The 49ers look to make another trip to the Super Bowl. Some key matchups to look for on their schedule are their matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers in week 12, the Buffalo Bills in week 13, and the Detroit Lions in week 17.
The 49ers were working with third-string quarterback Brock Purdy for the final six games of the 2022 regular season. He threw 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions in that run. Stepping in for second-string quarterback in week 13 against the Dolphins, he never looked back. The 49ers won their last ten regular season games, before playing the Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card playoff round. They defeated Seattle 41-23. Next, the team took on the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round. The low-scoring affair went the 49er's way. San Francisco won 19-12. In the NFC Championship, Brock Purdy injured his throwing arm and was forced out of the game. His backup suffered a head injury and that forced Purdy back onto the field. San Francisco scored just one touchdown in the NFC Championship game and now look to 2023.
In 2021, the San Francisco 49ers placed third in their division and were just one victory away from going to the Super Bowl. The Rams found a way to score 13 points in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game, and now the 49ers look to 2022. This was a strong team, once again. The 49ers won in Green Bay, against one of the best defensive performances by the Packers in years. A few special teams plays and they came away victorious. Before that game, the team took care of the Cowboys and the rams. They even managed to beat the Bengals earlier in the season. They just didn't get that one break and make it to Super Bowl 56.
As for 2022, free agent J.C. Jackson might be the player to acquire. The team's roster may look very different in 2022. Jimmy Garoppolo needs attention, as far as his contract. Laken Tomlinson is a player that the 49ers would love to keep on the roster. D.J. Jones and Arden Key may be moving on. It's projected that the team will be over the salary cap. In 2020, the San Francisco 49ers were one win away from being World Champions. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in an amazing Super Bowl game. Will the team repeat and move on? In 2021, the team will look to move on to the world championship. For now, the question is who will lead the team at quarterback.
The San Fransisco 49ers had one of the most bizarre seasons in 2017 in recent memory. They began the year with Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback but released him midseason and for good reason- the 49ers began the year 0-9. Right before the trade deadline, they sent a draft choice to the Patriots for backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. After sitting for a few weeks and learning the playbook, Garoppolo led the 49ers to five straight wins to finish the season. So what did the team do this offseason to build on their late steam from a year ago?
First and foremost, the team made their new star quarterback the highest-paid player in the league at five years, and 137.5 million dollars. The first move the team made was to extend wide receiver Marquise Goodwin for three years. Next, they signed veteran cornerback Richard Sherman in free agency. Also in free agency, they added punter Jeff Locke, running back Jerrick McKinnon, and offensive guard Jonathan Cooper.
For the draft, the 49ers had nine selections and came away with a great draft. With their first two selections, they continued to revamp their once-anemic offense with tackle Mike McGlinchey from Notre Dame and wide receiver Dante Pettis from Washington. With their next six selections, they went back to defense- inside linebacker Fred Warner from BYU, safety Tarvarius Moore from Southern Mississippi, defensive end Kentavius Street from North Carolina State, cornerback D.J. Reed from Kansas State, safety Marcell Harris from Florida, and defensive tackle Julian Taylor from Temple. They finished their draft with another wide receiver, Richie James from Middle Tennessee State. The 49ers have revamped their team and found their long-term quarterback. Now it is time to get it done.