placeholder image

NFL Network


Adam Rank makes 49ers record prediction for 2022

Jun 12, 2022 at 7:54 PM

Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.

San Francisco 49ers fans have criticized NFL Network analyst Adam Rank since he made his three-win prediction for the Bay Area team in 2019. That 49ers squad went on to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Rank has not predicted such a dire outcome for the 49ers since then. He has projected the team's win total for the 2022 season. After predicting three wins in 2019, Rank predicted 12 wins in 2020 and 14 in 2021.

What does the crystal ball say about San Francisco for the upcoming season? Rank predicts the 49ers will finish with a 9-8 record.

There are more question marks for head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad this season compared to the last two. While the interior offensive line situation is enough to make any fan nervous, there is no bigger uncertainty than Trey Lance, who is slated to be the starting quarterback after starting just two games last season. If Lance flourishes in his second NFL season, so will the 49ers.

"I'll just [get] this out of the way: There's going to be no 3-13 prediction," Rank, always a good sport about the online heckling resulting from that 2019 prediction, shared.

As a huge Chicago Bears fan, Rank has his favorite NFL team knocking off the 49ers in Week 1 at Soldier Field.

"The Bears should have won that game last year," Rank explained. "Improved defense. Give me Justin Fields over Trey Lance or Jimmy Garoppolo or whoever it is. Joe Montana. Bring out Steve Young. I don't care. The Bears win that game."

What about the 49ers' other games? Here is how Rank projects the start of San Francisco's season.

  • at Bears - L
  • Seahawks - W
  • at Broncos - L
  • Rams - W
  • at Panthers - L
  • at Falcons - W
  • Chiefs - L
  • at Rams - L

That leaves the 49ers under .500 heading into the bye week. Below is Rank's predicted outcome for the remainder of the season.

  • Chargers - W
  • at Cardinals - W
  • Saints - W
  • Dolphins - L
  • Buccaneers - L
  • at Seahawks - W
  • Commanders - W
  • at Raiders - L
  • Cardinals - W

Despite winning only nine games, Rank still has San Francisco making the playoffs. The record is good enough for second place in the NFC West. He has the Los Angeles Rams finishing with an 11-6 record, the Arizona Cardinals going 8-9, and the Seattle Seahawks finishing 5-12, with the latter two watching the postseason from home.

"Here's the best-case scenario: Trey Lance is this year's Joe Burrow, the 49ers head back to the Super Bowl," Rank said. "That could happen. The worst-case is Lance isn't even Jimmy Garoppolo, and it all just comes crashing around them, and it doesn't work out for anybody.

"But as you see right here, nine wins for the San Francisco 49ers. I know you like it better when I picked you guys to win three games because that's when you go to the Super Bowl, but I've got to keep it real. You're going to win nine games and make the playoffs."

Rank has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4) and Green Bay Packers (12-5) finishing with the best records in the NFC. He has his Bears finishing with more wins than the 49ers, earning a playoff spot with a 10-7 record.

Related News

Enjoy this article? Follow us to never miss more!

Powered by Follow.it


Comments

More San Francisco 49ers News

placeholder image

49ers Notebook: George Kittle keeps climbing the record book; Players have mixed excitement over bye week; Trey Lance says hello

By Kirk Larrabee
Oct 28

Sunday night brought a much-needed win for the San Francisco 49ers, who now head into the second half of the season with some momentum after losing four of their previous six games. For a moment, the game looked like it could possibly turn into the third time this season the...


placeholder image

49ers mailbag: Should SF trade away some players? Will the 49ers add a wide receiver at the trade deadline? How has Ricky Pearsall looked?

By Marc Adams
Oct 30

It's the bye week for the San Francisco 49ers. After a win over the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers improved to 4-4 and now have a week to rest up and get healthy. They hope to get some injured players back, as well, which should help. Especially since some of those players are...


placeholder image

49ers waive linebacker from active roster, release practice squad player

By Site Staff
2 hrs

The San Francisco 49ers announced they have waived linebacker Jalen Graham from the active roster and released kicker Anders Carlson from the practice squad. Graham's departure comes after the team traded for defensive tackle Khalil Davis. Carlson's release follows reports that...


placeholder image

Key stats from the 49ers' 30-24 Week 8 win vs. the Cowboys

By Site Staff
Oct 27

The San Francisco 49ers improved to 4-4 on the season after a 30-24 Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Below are several statistics and notes from Sunday's game, which were provided by the 49ers Communications staff. With The...


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone