Sports Illustrated asked nine of its writing staff members to look five months ahead and predict the outcome of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Only one—NFL insider Albert Breer—predicts the San Francisco 49ers will make it to the big game.
Breer envisions a showdown between the 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals, with head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad emerging victorious, 23-20, finally getting over the hump after two previous unsuccessful Super Bowl appearances with the team.
"I'm going with 2024 being The Year of Urgency," Breer wrote. "The two teams I have standing at the end, the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals, are both likely to undergo some roster shifting over the next couple of years, based on how their contracts are set up. So this could be the last shot, not for the franchises (both are too well-positioned for that), but for the particular groups of players on those rosters right now."
The 49ers recently handed out significant contracts to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and tackle Trent Williams. Next year, they'll need to negotiate a contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, who will likely become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. These financial commitments will reduce the team's salary-cap flexibility, which may force them to part ways with some established stars in the coming years.
However, this year's 49ers roster remains one of the most talented in the NFL, and they are the favorites to once again represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
"And those groups of players have knocked on the door for years, experienced seasons destroyed by injuries, and are as talented as any in the NFL," Breer continued. "To take it to another level: I almost picked the New York Jets to get by the Bengals in the divisional round and have their shot at the Chiefs, with the same dynamic existing there. So give me the same rematch of Super Bowls XVI and XXIII that I picked last year, but this time, I'll pick San Francisco coming out as the champion."
As for NFL honors, Breer and Andrew Brandt predict 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey will walk away with the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Matt Verderame has defensive end Nick Bosa reclaiming the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.