"I think the 49ers are the favorite, not only in the NFC West but in the NFC," Silver said on NFL Network, much to the surprise of colleagues Judy Battista, Jeffri Chadiha, and Rhett Lewis. "And in the NFC West, I don't think it's close."
As for the division-rivals Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, Silver feels those teams have their own questions to answer and shouldn't automatically be considered better than a Kyle Shanahan roster that looked awfully impressive not too long ago.
"I know people are excited about Matthew Stafford," Silver commented. "He better be great for what they gave up to get him. Les Snead, the general manager, talked the other day about superpowers. Let's hope that Matthew Stafford has many, many superpowers that thus far have produced zero playoff victories in 12 seasons."
Silver goes on to describe the situation with Seattle and Russell Wilson as "a mess." Even if the quarterback returns, there will be some damage control to undergo.
"He basically threw offensive lineman under the bus, in a lot of people's eyes," Silver explained. "I think there could be some awkward moments in that locker room, and obviously, he and Pete Carroll have some bridging of their relationship to do.
"The 49ers, to me, are very much like the team that came very, very close to winning the Super Bowl, and I do write off last year to the insane wave of injuries they experienced. I know they might lose some guys. You get Nick Bosa back healthy, if Jimmy Garoppolo ends up being the quarterback and can stay healthy, you see them trying to fortify what they have.
"They re-signed fullback Kyle Juszczyk, which is huge. They're trying to get Trent Williams back. I think the 49ers are going to be a force to be reckoned with, and they start the NFC West Derby right now on the very top."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Bucky Brooks predicts 49ers' chances in tight NFC West race
The San Francisco 49ers find themselves at 5-5 in the NFC West standings during a disappointing 2024 campaign. Facing a challenging two-game stretch, the team is set to take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, followed by a trip to Highmark Stadium to face the Buffalo... -
49ers Notebook: George Kittle's sunny optimism; Fred Warner on 'embarrassing' loss; Shanahan explains '12 men' penalties
After their 38-10 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers felt like a team whose season was on the brink. They remained only one game back of the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West standings after the loss, but a... -
Packers dismiss 49ers' injury excuse: "They should've came to play"
The San Francisco 49ers entered Sunday's game at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers at a clear disadvantage. They were without starting quarterback Brock Purdy and key stars like tackle Trent Williams and defensive end Nick Bosa. The lengthy injury list likely... -
49ers mailbag: Why isn't Jordan Mason more involved? What happened to the SF defense? What's wrong with Deebo Samuel?
This is a crucial week for the San Francisco 49ers. After Thanksgiving, they travel to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. While few (if any) expect the 49ers to win this game, you never know. The 49ers may rekindle that fire that has been missing all season long....