Championship window.

Playoffs come down to matchups more than field, this year especially. Seahawks, Ravens and Chiefs would be tough matchups for this team's weaknesses (pass blocking, defending running QBs) no matter where they play.

But before we get there... what we need to see is this team settle down, get healthier at key positions (QB, CB, Greenlaw), and put a whole game together against a non NY team. The WRs and TE group looked much better last night with Kittle and Aiyuk/Samuel, at least when Mullens could get them the ball.

My concern is mostly two fold for 2020:

1. The OL, minus Richburg, is healthy but is the worst unit on the team. Jimmy G's quick release hides a lot of their problems, but even with that they need to improve or this team is going nowhere this year. OL has to be a major investment for 2021.

2. Edge rush without Bosa and Ford is not able to close. What did this team need in 2018? Closers. We're back there. Armstead is not an edge guy, yet we're having to play him there a lot right now. That's a bad situation to be in. Hyder has been the lone backup to have a few flash plays, but that's all they are. Without the closers at ER this team will struggle against playmaker at QB.

No need to panic. If had Garappolo, we win easily.

Cardinals and Rams do not look that good either. We just have to beat them out. Seahawks on the otherhand are way better than us atm. If we can get healthy throughout the season and just hold on, we can possibly match them when playoffs roll around.

Our focus needs to go from leaning on our defense to scoring 40+ points per game, which we are very capable of. Mosert and Garappolo are coming back. Kittle and Deebo will be more healthy next week. Auyik is becoming a special player already. We have the guys to become a dominate offense. I think the chips will fall in place this season. I just hope it is soon enough to make the playoffs

The defense carried us last year.. injuries won't allow that this year. It's gonna take the offense putting up 40 a week for us to have a shot. Most likely we're 2 drafts away from being back in contention.

Originally posted by kelson49er:

Originally posted by Ensatsu:

7 Seed might be better anyway. These guys play better on the road. At home, we are just awful. And no crowds anyway. There's zero advantage to home field this year aside from the bye week, obviously.

Travel too, especially in a COVID-ridden environment. Flying was bad enough before.

They travel on private charters. They are not exposed to what normal people who travel do. They get the red carpet / Backdoor treatment.
I've been flying throughout this whole thing. Never caught it and believe it or not it's not bad at all out there lol.

Originally posted by jays9ers:
The defense carried us last year.. injuries won't allow that this year. It's gonna take the offense putting up 40 a week for us to have a shot. Most likely we're 2 drafts away from being back in contention.

Yeah, the defense really took a hit this year with no Bosa and Ford. We really have no pass rush to speak of and that in turn has affected our pass defense. It's just going to take time to get our guys back.

Originally posted by theduke85:

Originally posted by Wolf_Packer_53:

We are 2-2, only 2 games behind first place and have 5 divisional games left. I hate to tell ya this but if you thought we were going 16-0, well you are delusional. However, there is plenty of time to right this ship.

You just can't lose these games. The Eagles are trash this year. The division is too good to afford to lose to crap teams.

True, but we did lose to a bad Falcons team last year and still had the first seed. While I doubt we'll get a first seed with our laundry list if injuries, it's not like the season is done.

Originally posted by jays9ers:

The defense carried us last year.. injuries won't allow that this year. It's gonna take the offense putting up 40 a week for us to have a shot. Most likely we're 2 drafts away from being back in contention.

It's not that bad. We should have more talent on offense this year and we had the 2nd highest scoring offense in the league last year. Look at the games after Baltimore last year, the D took a ton of injuries and was giving up like 30 a game and we only lost 1 game to a bad Falcons team.

Lol we literally were beaten in every facet of the gane by one of the worst teams in the league in one of the worst conferences in sports history and we're talking playoffs and championships.

It's amazing how fast our window closes while saints, packers , Baltimore , Seahawks etc remain in the playoffs for last decade or so, I don't get it, seems like we get one big run out of nowhere but instead of sustaining it next season we fall back in the dark Ages for a few years after that big run, why ??? Is it cause those teams have a franchise qb and we don't ??

Originally posted by PRIMETIME21:
It's amazing how fast our window closes while saints, packers , Baltimore , Seahawks etc remain in the playoffs for last decade or so, I don't get it, seems like we get one big run out of nowhere but instead of sustaining it next season we fall back in the dark Ages for a few years after that big run, why ??? Is it cause those teams have a franchise qb and we don't ??

Our injury list makes it difficult to contend. Your point on a franchise QB is still being evaluated by fans. Some think Jimmy G is ok others on to the next. I think securing a solid right tackle and a healthy Bosa puts us back in the mix. Even without them the offense will light it up when our QB comes back. Finding a true franchise QB gives team a 10 year window. My view on Jimmy G is that he is competent but has injury concerns.

Originally posted by PRIMETIME21:
It's amazing how fast our window closes while saints, packers , Baltimore , Seahawks etc remain in the playoffs for last decade or so, I don't get it, seems like we get one big run out of nowhere but instead of sustaining it next season we fall back in the dark Ages for a few years after that big run, why ??? Is it cause those teams have a franchise qb and we don't ??

we are missing 12 starters....f**king relax.

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:

Originally posted by PRIMETIME21:

It's amazing how fast our window closes while saints, packers , Baltimore , Seahawks etc remain in the playoffs for last decade or so, I don't get it, seems like we get one big run out of nowhere but instead of sustaining it next season we fall back in the dark Ages for a few years after that big run, why ??? Is it cause those teams have a franchise qb and we don't ??

we are missing 12 starters....f**king relax.

Therapy Classes start on Thursday.

If the window is closed, the Shanalynch era is going to end with a fizzle.

I don't think it is.

It's closed for the year. But I could see the Niners cutting ties with some expensive players and getting refreshed next year or the year after and storming back to being playoff contenders.

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:

Originally posted by PRIMETIME21:
It's amazing how fast our window closes while saints, packers , Baltimore , Seahawks etc remain in the playoffs for last decade or so, I don't get it, seems like we get one big run out of nowhere but instead of sustaining it next season we fall back in the dark Ages for a few years after that big run, why ??? Is it cause those teams have a franchise qb and we don't ??

we are missing 12 starters....f**king relax.

this