This season feels like a complete loss without a Lombardi

Originally posted by Furlow:
Very similar experiences for me. I was 16 in 1990 and still cried lol. That loss was brutal for all the reasons you mentioned. I also agree that 2011 was worse, it just felt like OUR year, the magic was back. I was at that game with my brothers, had seats at about the 20 yard line so we had a perfect view of both Kyle Williams gaffes and the game winning field goal. Sickening loss. That year was the only Super Bowl in my lifetime that I couldn't even watch.

This year feels like 1994 to me. Dominant team, special talent everywhere, blowing people out. I do NOT fear the Ravens nor any team from the AFC. We just need to play a clean game and commit to running the football (with more than just CMC). Honestly if we get today's version of Elijah Mitchell for the playoff run, we will walk to a Super Bowl victory. CMC/Mitchell one-two punch with Purdy's passing is unstoppable.

Probably if we don't turn it over much yes.

When you have high expectations every season that doesn't end in a Lombardi trophy is a failure. Even in failure you can find positives.

To be fair, such expectations will not be realistic in every season, but in some seasons, like 2022, they will be very realistic.

Originally posted by NinerPrideinNJ:
I may be beating a dead horse here but, honestly, ever since the dark age of '03 to '10, each year the team has gone the past 13 years without a Lombardi has stung immensely.

2011: Felt like destiny. Then Kyle Williams happened. No need to rehash further; but seemed like the year. Absolutely brutal.
2012: Defense collapsed in the playoffs and Super Bowl. Despite going down big and the blackout, they still managed to get within a score and goal line situation. Rough.
2013: Again goal line/redzone situation and it's tipped and picked in the endzone against the hated Seahawks. How has this happened three years in a row?!

2014-2018: Dark Ages Part 2. 2018 felt like we turned the corner, until week 2 or 3 when JImmy G tore his ACL. Snake bitten.

2019: Again feels like destiny; team is on an absolute tear. Destroys Minny and GB but runs into KC and battles horrendous officiating, and a team-wide crumble in the 4th quarter. This one hurt the most since the 2011 NFC CG.

2021: They go on an absolute surge mid- to end the season. Insanely memorable games. The GB snow game ranks up there with one of the all-time greats. Cinderella story ends against LA in the Championship game; as usual, in the waning moment; excruciating fashion.

2022: I'll make it short. Another Cinderella story mixed with immense talent. Lance: done in Week 2. Jimmy G inexplicably back on the team leads them and has his best season since 2019...until he goes down. Enter Brock Purdy. We all know the rest...again, another NFC CG loss, but this one is the worst since the Giants in 2011...because we never saw what could have been.

So here we are. 2023. The best team this franchise has ever fielded since 1994.

If any of those previous years, from 2011-present day, yielded just a single trophy, it wouldn't feel so desperate...at least to me. But they didn't. There could have been several. There've been none. I was nine years old when they won in 94. Feels like an eternity.

So as wonderful as this season has been; it just feels like it's unfinished business, and none of it matters without a trophy at the end.

Anyone else just feel like they need to see just ONE again, and then they're good for a long time and the heartbreak of these other seasons wouldn't sting so bad? Maybe it's just me. Hoping they finally turn the corner this year. We're due and holy hell, has it been a gut-wrenching journey that's fallen painfully short the past decade.

GREAT POST!!! I was just thinking about this too. We have been through such harsh times, that at one point, this was the greatest NFL draft forum I've ever seen and had the priveledge to participate in, but that was all we had. I was born in 88, and I had no one to watch football with because no one in my family likes it, but every Sunday I would watch the games, and because of where I lived, we only had 2 channels. I never got to see Joe Montana play in a 49er uniform, but I did get to see Steve Young!!! I watched that dynasty retire, and after Mariucci, that revolving door of coaches was miserable.

The Harbaugh Era was confusing. Mostly, because it was so brief. The team was brutal and tough, willing it's way to victory with an all time great defense, Frank Gore and a new look run heavy offense with a mobile quarterback that was a local kid. It was fun and exciting, but brutal. This team self destructed so fast..... Between Harbaugh leaving, Aldon Smith going crazy, Willis retiring, and all of my favorite players ended up in other uniforms like Gore and Crabtree.

Then came the darkness. Until Lynch and Shanahan came into town. I am so thankful for the stability they have provided. I am so proud of the team they have built. I have never in my life had more confidence in a team than this roster today. They've managed to keep most of my favorite players, with exception of Buckner, and they continuously surprise me with their top tier acquisitions like Trent Williams, CMC, Mooney, and Chase Young. If we can continue to keep our guys like Aijuk, I will be very happy. Shanahan has this team dialed in and focused. The lockeroom is strong with amazing leadership from veteran guys who have been here like Kittle and Warner, and guys like Trent Williams finally getting a taste of success in his career. Brock Purdy has been brilliant, coming in and orchestrating this offense to maximum efficiency. He's still growing too! The future looks bright. The future is now. I love it. Love this team. I think this is our year, but regardless of outcome, this is my team. This is my favorite roster we've ever had. Like how the heck did we get CMC? This feels like my madden franchise has come to life. Sometimes I think I am dreaming. I'm just happy af right now

Not close to being a waste

Yeah, we're in Super Bowl or bust mode now. This is the most stacked team we've had in the Shanahan era. I'd argue that we won't have a better collection of talent while we have this core group of players. Shanahan has the QB he's been needing, and four players that put up +1000 yards from scrimmage each. Defensively, there are all-pros at every level. This team has everything it needs to win a SB.

If we fail to win, there's a question of "what went wrong?" Besides injuries at key positions, I don't think there's any reason why we shouldn't sweep the NFC and make it to the Super Bowl.

We've already obliterated the Cowboys and Eagles, as well as won handedly against the Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Rams. I think it's very clear we're the best team in the NFC. If we fail to get to the Super Bowl in a "fair" situation, WITH the #1 seed… yeah, the team really fell short.

Once we get to the Super Bowl, yeah… that's the test. If it is indeed the Ravens in our path, it will be interesting to see how Purdy bounces back. How Shanahan and Wilks scheme against that defense and Lamar. Personally, I feel very confident. Hard to imagine that we'd put ourselves in an 0-5 turnover hole again.

One thing I'll say though… Our failure to beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, beat the Rams in the NFCCG… I hate to say it, but I argue that Shanahan wasn't able to succeed with Jimmy G there. Jimmy's propensity for turnovers made for a very tense experience and likely affected the playcalling and decision-making, and the worst outcome ended up happening in those games. And then last season's exit against the Eagles was just… yeah.

With Purdy at QB now, there's a lot of hope. I make the discussion point though, that, should we fail to win it this year… if say, it's because of poor Purdy play? I wouldn't fret so much. We have a young, second year QB playing for us, and it's certainly a question of how he'll fare in the brightest of lights. Our window is open as Purdy matures and grows as a QB.

Originally posted by Wubbie:
Yeah, we're in Super Bowl or bust mode now. This is the most stacked team we've had in the Shanahan era. I'd argue that we won't have a better collection of talent while we have this core group of players. Shanahan has the QB he's been needing, and four players that put up +1000 yards from scrimmage each. Defensively, there are all-pros at every level. This team has everything it needs to win a SB.

If we fail to win, there's a question of "what went wrong?" Besides injuries at key positions, I don't think there's any reason why we shouldn't sweep the NFC and make it to the Super Bowl.

We've already obliterated the Cowboys and Eagles, as well as won handedly against the Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Rams. I think it's very clear we're the best team in the NFC. If we fail to get to the Super Bowl in a "fair" situation, WITH the #1 seed… yeah, the team really fell short.

Once we get to the Super Bowl, yeah… that's the test. If it is indeed the Ravens in our path, it will be interesting to see how Purdy bounces back. How Shanahan and Wilks scheme against that defense and Lamar. Personally, I feel very confident. Hard to imagine that we'd put ourselves in an 0-5 turnover hole again.

Feels like we are destined for a Raven 49ers superbowl rematch

Originally posted by Furlow:
Very similar experiences for me. I was 16 in 1990 and still cried lol. That loss was brutal for all the reasons you mentioned. I also agree that 2011 was worse, it just felt like OUR year, the magic was back. I was at that game with my brothers, had seats at about the 20 yard line so we had a perfect view of both Kyle Williams gaffes and the game winning field goal. Sickening loss. That year was the only Super Bowl in my lifetime that I couldn't even watch.

This year feels like 1994 to me. Dominant team, special talent everywhere, blowing people out. I do NOT fear the Ravens nor any team from the AFC. We just need to play a clean game and commit to running the football (with more than just CMC). Honestly if we get today's version of Elijah Mitchell for the playoff run, we will walk to a Super Bowl victory. CMC/Mitchell one-two punch with Purdy's passing is unstoppable.

Oh I love this.

What our fellow fans need to know is that game planning and play calling is such a huge part of this sport, that it's an art to balance bringing your best stuff out as much as possible versus trying to be conservative.

Like yesterday's game against the Commanders, I thought was brilliant. I wanted a 27-10 type win and called it perfectly......wanted no flashy plays, conservative red zone was fine with me. Just get the W nice and clean and go home. We killed a ton of clock, I think the 2nd half kicked off under 90 minutes from game start....this had to have been the quickest Niner game of the season start to finish.

We just needed a victory, and in general I think we see that coaching wise from Shanahan. The Cowboys/Eagles game we saw some real hardcore game plans and tenacity.

So the Ravens went all out to beat the 49ers, much more than we went all out to beat them. We certainly brought the energy reserved for a handful of regular season games a season, but not the game plan. We definitely vetted all their strategy out, and they even TALKED postgame on what they were trying to do (maybe you'd do that after a super bowl victory, but not with a potential rematch in the works).

What's great about the current 49er offense is that literally the only thing we've "struggled" with is being too pass happy at times, because we've seen how good it can be. In the Garoppolo days, we'd never have had such issues. Garoppolo never had a 4 INT game (not sure if he had a 3 pick game...possibly that Dolphin debacle when he was hurt in 2020)....and that's because we'd never (excuse me, *he'd* never) be that aggressive.

It's not so hard to be extra conservative and run the ball more. I imagine we will see that a lot more in the postseason and open things up as needed/appropriate.

We probably could've taken the Ravens to the wire simply with such a game plan, but I think it was good to take an uglier loss and get good reconnaissance on maybe how to smash them in the passing game as well.

I imagine McDaniel might have ideas too....56-19....yeah, wouldn't be shocked if the Ravens lose to the Dolphins this month....

Stay healthy. A bit of good football luck (the opposite of the Ravens' lucky picks). Sixth Ring.

facts.

Originally posted by NTeply49:

Originally posted by Wubbie:
Yeah, we're in Super Bowl or bust mode now. This is the most stacked team we've had in the Shanahan era. I'd argue that we won't have a better collection of talent while we have this core group of players. Shanahan has the QB he's been needing, and four players that put up +1000 yards from scrimmage each. Defensively, there are all-pros at every level. This team has everything it needs to win a SB.

If we fail to win, there's a question of "what went wrong?" Besides injuries at key positions, I don't think there's any reason why we shouldn't sweep the NFC and make it to the Super Bowl.

We've already obliterated the Cowboys and Eagles, as well as won handedly against the Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Rams. I think it's very clear we're the best team in the NFC. If we fail to get to the Super Bowl in a "fair" situation, WITH the #1 seed… yeah, the team really fell short.

Once we get to the Super Bowl, yeah… that's the test. If it is indeed the Ravens in our path, it will be interesting to see how Purdy bounces back. How Shanahan and Wilks scheme against that defense and Lamar. Personally, I feel very confident. Hard to imagine that we'd put ourselves in an 0-5 turnover hole again.

Feels like we are destined for a Raven 49ers superbowl rematch

Indeed.

Originally posted by NineFourNiner:
Stay healthy. A bit of good football luck (the opposite of the Ravens' lucky picks). Sixth Ring.

facts.

I agree with you. Very important for healthy and heals up because they can plays make easy and plays fast. If we get an injury, that is called a downgrade, and we play a loss game for reason. We must avoid injury! And head coach Kyle Shanahan must be smart with the football rules with everything and finals; they deserve superbowl championships, seriously!

Holy Harbaugh bowl I was watching some 49ers pod on YouTube, fell asleep and it switched to a replay of Super Bowl 47 after the other video finished. When I woke up about an hour later, I lay there hearing the voices of Jim Nantz, Phil Simms calling this game and suddenly realize WTF that f**king Super Bowl is playing on my phone right now. At first I thought I was having a nightmare, well I was lol. How depressing AF. That team was so damn loaded, if only we'd given the ball to Frankie at least once or twice on that goal-to-go situation. I think if Kaepernick processed info close to what Purdy does we'd be 6-time SB champs easy. Has any offensive system ever run their playcalling operation slower than Harbaugh in the history of the league? Just asking for a friend.

Originally posted by ninerjok:
Holy Harbaugh bowl I was watching some 49ers pod on YouTube, fell asleep and it switched to a replay of Super Bowl 47 after the other video finished. When I woke up about an hour later, I lay there hearing the voices of Jim Nantz, Phil Simms calling this game and suddenly realize WTF that f**king Super Bowl is playing on my phone right now. At first I thought I was having a nightmare, well I was lol. How depressing AF. That team was so damn loaded, if only we'd given the ball to Frankie at least once or twice on that goal-to-go situation. I think if Kaepernick processed info close to what Purdy does we'd be 6-time SB champs easy. Has any offensive system ever run their playcalling operation slower than Harbaugh in the history of the league? Just asking for a friend.

At the time we were the only offense in SB history to have a 300 yard passer, 2 100 yard receivers, and a 100 yard rusher.

Kaepernick became only the 2nd QB in SB history at the time to have 300 yards passing and 50 yards rushing.

We scored the 2nd most points in SB history at the time in a loss. Tied for 2nd with the 2003 Panthers if you factor for the safety the Ravens gave us.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by ninerjok:
Holy Harbaugh bowl I was watching some 49ers pod on YouTube, fell asleep and it switched to a replay of Super Bowl 47 after the other video finished. When I woke up about an hour later, I lay there hearing the voices of Jim Nantz, Phil Simms calling this game and suddenly realize WTF that f**king Super Bowl is playing on my phone right now. At first I thought I was having a nightmare, well I was lol. How depressing AF. That team was so damn loaded, if only we'd given the ball to Frankie at least once or twice on that goal-to-go situation. I think if Kaepernick processed info close to what Purdy does we'd be 6-time SB champs easy. Has any offensive system ever run their playcalling operation slower than Harbaugh in the history of the league? Just asking for a friend.

At the time we were the only offense in SB history to have a 300 yard passer, 2 100 yard receivers, and a 100 yard rusher.

Kaepernick became only the 2nd QB in SB history at the time to have 300 yards passing and 50 yards rushing.

We scored the 2nd most points in SB history at the time in a loss. Tied for 2nd with the 2003 Panthers if you factor for the safety the Ravens gave us.

Holy s**t I totally forgot what an amazing statistic for a single game. Ironically we lost more because our defense which I still contend was good as hell couldn't get just one more stop. TBF that was a bend-don't break defense and truthfully speaking were leaking oil down the stretch of the season. Can't remember the head referee's name but man he was an all-time prick, biggest douche bag ever. Oh yeah Jerome Boger I remember we called him booger. Bruce Miller was absolutely f**king held on the 100+ yd kick return by Jones. Biggest bulls**t no-call ever.

Originally posted by ninerjok:
Holy s**t I totally forgot what an amazing statistic for a single game. Ironically we lost more because our defense which I still contend was good as hell couldn't get just one more stop. TBF that was a bend-don't break defense and truthfully speaking were leaking oil down the stretch of the season. Can't remember the head referee's name but man he was an all-time prick, biggest douche bag ever. Oh yeah Jerome Boger I remember we called him booger. Bruce Miller was absolutely f**king held on the 100+ yd kick return by Jones. Biggest bulls**t no-call ever.

Yea lol… Jerome Boger was a name I'll never forget. I think he may have shuffled out of the league just recently.