How many games will the 49ers win in 2025?
What’s the easiest path to the playoffs? Winning your division. The San Francisco 49ers did themselves zero favors in 2024 after going 1-5 in the division. Week 18 didn’t mean anything, but that’s because of a pair of brutal losses during the first half of the season.
In Week 3 on the road, the Niners held a 14-0 lead against the Los Angeles Rams, a 21-7 lead, and were up 24-17 with 2:47 to play with a chance to extend the lead to double digits with a 55-yard attempt.
Not to be outdone, two weeks later, this time at home, San Francisco went into halftime up 23-10 against the Arizona Cardinals. In the fourth quarter, with just over six minutes to play, the offense had marched down the field thanks to an explosive play by Brandon Aiyuk. On 1st & goal, Jordan Mason not only lost four yards, but he fumbled — some would say the game away. San Francisco went on to lose 24-23.
After the Niners looked like themselves in Week 6 at Seattle, the Seahawks returned the favor at Levi’s Stadium later in the season. Once again, the 49ers had a late fourth-quarter lead. It was 17-13 with under three minutes to play. San Francisco punted from the 42, but the ball went into the end zone.
By this time, Nick Bosa was sidelined. Seattle took full advantage and marched 80 yards in two minutes and 26 seconds before Geno Smith scrambled in for a touchdown with 12 seconds left.
That’s three games last season where the Niners had late leads in the fourth quarter, and you-know-what the bed each time. Yet, in Week 15, San Francisco still had an opportunity to make a final postseason push. At home against the Rams, the Niners lost a game without allowing a touchdown. A late interception and a Deebo Samuel drop were ultimately the reasons why.
A lot had to go against the 49ers for them to finish the season 1-5 in the division. It would be difficult for anybody to repeat that performance. But it’s also a reminder of how unpredictable things can be in this sport, especially in divisional games.
Will the 49ers have better luck in 2025? Assuming they don’t fumble, drop passes, allow non-running quarterbacks to look like Lamar Jackson, and make their field goals…yes.
How many divisional games will the 49ers win in 2025?
My answer: The 49ers have three divisional contests in their first five games of the season. The third game comes against the Rams on a short week. That’s a tricky spot. Outside of that, every other game against an NFC West foe is not only manageable but winnable.
Using our predictions for the upcoming season, I have the 49ers winning at Seattle and at home against the Cardinals, losing on the short week at SoFi, winning the rematch in Week 10 against the Rams, then turning around and losing in the desert, before losing a meaningless game at home against the Seahawks in Week 18.
3-3 in the division. That’s a two-game improvement from a season ago. Ideally, Week 18 wouldn’t matter. If it did, my answer would change.
What do you think? Scroll down and let us know in the comments.