If ESPN’s 13 NFL experts are correct, the San Francisco 49ers should pack it in for the 2025 season and try again in 2026.
After a dreary 6-11 season that saw the 49ers miss the postseason for the first time since 2020, they were left completely out of early Super Bowl LX predictions from the Worldwide Leader.
In the 13 predicted matchups, five different NFC teams are represented. The Detroit Lions were picked four times after an injury-riddled season that saw them fall in the divisional round to the Washington Commanders. Washington, the NFC runner up, was picked twice. The Green Bay Packers received a pair of nods. The Los Angeles Rams got one, and the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles got four. Interestingly, only one person picked the Eagles to repeat.
Four AFC teams were picked: the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs. Baltimore was picked six times, the Bills four times, the Bengals twice and the Chiefs once.
It’s not a huge surprise given where the 49ers landed in a ranking of contenders by the ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Given that the season just ended, most of the predictions involved the best teams from the 2024 season. It’ll be interesting to see if any of these predictions change or if the vibe around any of the clubs is different after free agency and the NFL draft.
One thing is clear: the NFC isn’t going to be easy for the 49ers to get through even if they do make the improvements necessary to return to Super Bowl form.
Philadelphia is returning a dominant roster that figures to be the best in the NFL once again. Detroit is doing the same, and they should have better injury luck after a disastrous campaign on that front. Washington looks like they could be formidable for a long time after quarterback Jayden Daniels’ sensational season. Former 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters is also running the show in Washington. Green Bay is still young with an upward trajectory, and LA is coming off an NFC West title.
It’s understandable the 49ers weren’t on the early 2025 radar, but they should get there if their offseason goes according to plan.