One ESPN analyst believes wholeheartedly that Shanahan can't waste this golden opportunity. It's Super Bowl or bust for the Bay Area team.
"There's no flaw [with the 49ers]," Joe Fortenbaugh said on the "Carlin vs. Joe" show. "The coaching is outstanding. The quarterback play is as good as it gets in the NFL. You can argue Brock Purdy's case for MVP all you want. That quarterback play is rock solid. They can run the ball. They can protect. They can throw the ball all over the field. They can get after opposing passers. They can play defense and cover in the back end. They can win on the road. They can win against AFC teams. They can win at home. They can do it all."
Winning on the road in the playoffs may be unnecessary. Fortenbaugh sounds confident the 49ers will earn the NFC's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
"You're going to get that week off for the bye," Fortenbaugh continued as he explained the 49ers' path to the Super Bowl. "Then you got to win two games, the first of which shouldn't be all that daunting. Then you take out Dallas, Philly, whoever it may be in the NFC Championship Game, and then it's a short flight down to Las Vegas to get ready for the Super Bowl.
"Like, this is the year for Kyle Shanahan. This is the year he takes the next step, he wins the Super Bowl, he erases anything in his history that people say in regards to him not being able to win the big game. He is a hell of a coach."
Fortenbaugh believes the 49ers are better than anyone coming out of the AFC. That will be tested on Christmas night when San Francisco hosts the Baltimore Ravens, who currently sit atop the AFC playoff standings.
When it comes to Shanahan's past Super Bowl failures, Fortenbaugh stated, "I don't think we should have to worry about whether or not he can call the right plays late in the fourth quarter. They should be able to go out there and just win the football game. They should be able to beat everybody. I'm not calling for a 40-point blowout, but this is the year where if Shanahan doesn't win and there's no major injuries derailing the season, you have to scratch your head and think, What is it? This roster is loaded top to bottom."
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