No Need For 49ers To Panic
By Jerrell Richardson
After the recent defeat at the hands of the Rams this past Sunday; some members of 49er nation have hit the panic button. This leaves the team at 4-4, which for the non-math majors is one loss away from a losing record. Being under .500 might have been forgivable after week 3, not after week 9. The good news is that despite their early season hiccups, the 49ers are still in a position to save their season. The bad news is that they have left themselves very little wiggle room and will need to rely on the rest of the NFC to allow them to catch up. But there is plenty of reasons to think that the teams around them will not start to lose more games than they win.
Why Not To Worry
Before the loss to the Rams, the 49ers felt good about their remaining schedule, so it's not as though something has changed in a weeks' time. While it was figured that the St. Louis would be a 49er win, nobody had San Francisco realistically running the table or losing just one game the rest of the way, so this recent setback is not the end of the world.
It’s hard to imagine an 11 win team making the playoffs, so if that’s the number for San Francisco has to shoot for they are still within reach. Not working in their favor though is the first team up is New Orleans. This week is of the upmost importance as a loss in New Orleans means the 49ers will essentially be forced to win out. But even this is not unfathomable when looking at their opponents (Giants, Redskins, Raiders, Chargers, Seahawks (twice), and Cardinals).
While San Francisco needs to worry and focus on themselves first, what plays in their favor is the current state of the NFC. There is a lot of football left and not only are there no dominant teams, the current NFC playoff picture is very cloudy.
The NFC playoff contenders who have better records then San Francisco, all fall into four categories. They are all either dealing with an injured quarterback, within the NFC West, a team that relies solely on their quarterback, or they are a team that is unproven. Unlike the AFC there is no team you can point at right now as a lock for the playoffs, which is good thing for a team like the 49ers that is currently out of the playoff picture.
Hurt Quarterback
Last week the Eagles lost Nick Foles and will have to rely on Mark Sanchez to lead them into the playoffs. The former Jet is capable of doing so, but to expect him to step in and have the offense not miss a beat does not seem likely.
Can’t Trust Them
Dallas plans to get Tony Romo back sooner than later, but have dropped two games in a row and with two games still with the Eagles and one with the Colts, the Cowboys will have their hands full down the stretch. Add to this the fact that the Cowboys have found a way to screw things up year after year and it’s hard to put any real trust in America's Team. Joining Dallas as a team you can't trust is Detroit. The Lions have all the talent they need, but they have not shown the ability to get out of their own way and could easily start losing games left and right.
Elite Passers With No Defense
Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are two of the game’s elite quarterbacks and have Super Bowl trophies on their resume, but neither has won it all recently. Both can’t be ignored but without strong defenses are both teams are vulnerable.
NFC West Foes
What has hurt and helped the 49ers is the play of their own division. Hurting them has been the surprise play of the Cardinals, who have the best record in the NFC. As well as Arizona has played though, they have also gotten lucky in several wins and does not have an easy schedule to close out the season. For the 49ers sake, they had better hope that the Cardinals stumble down the stretch, but even if they don’t, there is always Seattle.
The most daunting name on the 49ers remaining schedule is Seattle, and they are not close to the dominant team that snuck past the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game last year. The two teams meet later in the season and should be evenly matched. If this is the case than the safe bet is that that the home team wins each. However, San Francisco will no longer tremble at the thought of traveling to Seattle. Just last week, the winless Raiders went to Seattle, and gave the defending Super Bowl Champs all they can handle.
A Lot Of Football Left
There is plenty of time of the 49esr to establish their brand of football and get things rolling before the postseason, however they must take it one week at a time and its starts with a trip to New Orleans to take on a first place Saints team that is also looking to gain second half momentum
If the 49ers win Sunday then their course to the playoffs is still very much intact. Even a loss would not put them out of it, but it would put them on the verge. If they lose next week then even then it’s time to be really worried, but even that would not raise the level of concern to a panic as the teams around them will start losing. It’s time to panic when they are out of the playoffs. Until then, in the words of Aaron Rodgers, “relax”.
For more 49ers news and updates, visit 49ers Central.
Jerrell Richardson is a Bay Area native who due to a college career at San Diego State University has grown an appreciation for all things sports related in California. His heart will always remain in San Francisco though where he currently resides and covers everything from the San Francisco 49ers and Giants to the San Jose Sharks and California Bears Baseball team. Jerrell is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
