The 49ers didn't win three games. They didn't play .500 football either. The team finished the season 13-3, won the NFC West, and earned the No. 1 seed in the conference before a playoff run that ended with a trip to the Super Bowl.
Rank was wrong, and all season long, he had to be reminded about that from fans.
The NFL Media analyst isn't underestimating the 49ers this year. Rank has San Francisco finishing 12-4 in 2020, losing only to the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, and Dallas Cowboys. The Seattle loss, by the way, is the Week 8 matchup at CenturyLink Field.
NFL.com
Rank believes the Week 15 matchup between the 49ers and Cowboys could be the game of the year, with the two teams, in his opinion, being evenly matched.
A 12-4 record won't be enough to earn them the No. 1 seed again, says Rank. He has the 49ers as the No. 3 seed in the NFC.
"12-4, 'taking a step back,' but really, I think this team is better," explained Rank. "You think about Jimmy Garoppolo; I know a lot of people wanted to bring in Tom Brady. That was ridiculous. Jimmy Garoppolo is a good quarterback. Raheem Mostert is a good running back. Nick Bosa, obviously, is as good as advertised.
"You might feel disrespected. You might feel that I should say 13-3 or 14-2. You probably wish I would say 3-13 again. But here's the thing: To me, the 49ers are in a very similar situation to what the Chiefs were in last year. The Chiefs, two years ago, No. 1 seed, got knocked off in the AFC Championship Game, then went out and won the Super Bowl. I think it behooves the 49ers to kind of just, 'Alright, don't need to be the No. 1 seed again, and just kind of fly under the radar.'
"People look at the Eagles and some of these other teams that come out, and you have your best season ever. Even though, record-wise, it will be different from last year, I think they'll be much better."
Click here to listen to Rank's entire explanation of how he arrived at his 12-4 prediction.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers vs. Rams: George Kittle predicts a big game for Deebo Samuel
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel sparked discussion on social media this week after addressing criticism of his production. In a now-deleted post, Samuel wrote, "Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!" The comment prompted questions for head... -
Fred Warner determined to play through injury and finish 49ers season
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner recently revealed that he has been playing through a bone fracture in his ankle, shedding light on why his performance has dipped compared to his strong start to the season. Warner explained that continuing to play has hindered the... -
49ers vs. Rams: 5 Biggest Threats in NFC West Clash
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to host the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on Thursday night in a pivotal Week 15 showdown. Which five Rams players could present the biggest challenges to a 49ers victory? Let's break it down. QB Matthew Stafford In their first... -
Pro Bowl voting: Four 49ers players leading their positions in the NFC
Four San Francisco 49ers players are leading Pro Bowl Games voting for their respective NFC positions: tight end George Kittle, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, defensive end Nick Bosa, and linebacker Fred Warner. The NFL sent out the following press release. NEW YORK — Dec....