NFC Preview: Where the 49ers Finish this Season

The Eagles and 49ers are legit contenders, while Dallas, Detroit, and Seattle look like teams that are in the mix, and then it’s who else steps up.

It's deja vu all over again as the Niners get a rematch in Philly for the NFC Championship.

Tank Patrol

16. Arizona Cardinals: 2-15
Arizona started tanking for USC quarterback Caleb Williams two days after the Super Bowl when they hired Jonathan Gannon, the Philadelphia defensive coordinator Andy Reid embarrassed in the Super Bowl, to be their next head coach.

15. Carolina Panthers: 4-13
Bryce Young is good, his offensive line is not. Meanwhile, the Panthers and Pro Bowl edge Brian Burns are miles apart in contract talks.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-13
Baker Mayfield? Good luck.

13. Los Angeles Rams: 4-13
The Rams need a young quarterback, see this loaded draft, and if they start slowly there could be a SoFi yard sale at the trade deadline on Halloween. I have them 2-6 at the deadline. Trick or treat.

Next year? Ok then, the year after that?

12. Chicago Bears: 6-11 – Better weapons but not elite.
11. New York Giants: 7-10 – See above.

Outside looking in.
10. Minnesota Vikings: 8-9 – Brian Flores will help the D but not quite enough.
9. Washington (insert team name next year): 9-8 – Great pass rush, Sam Howell coming along, ascending.
8. Green Bay Packers: 9-8 – Underrated D, good young weapons, but Detroit is better.

Playoffs – early exits

7. Atlanta Falcons: 9-8
Niners Light offensively, Atlanta should be one of the league’s best rushing teams, led by Rookie of The Year candidate Bijan Robinson targeting a 1,000/1,000 season. If he can stay healthy, they could win the division. The last wild card could be decided in Week 2, Green Bay at Atlanta. The Packers were 26th against the run last year.

6. Seattle Seahawks: 10-7
A great young team everywhere but on run defense. You can’t have that Achilles heel and go far in the playoffs. Breakout rookie wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba will be a key target for 3rd down conversions. The Hawks are a year out.

5. New Orleans Saints: 11-6
The league’s second-easiest schedule (behind Atlanta) and a team everyone has slept on due to injuries. Fully healthy the Saints are dangerous. Derek Carr is a question mark, but this is the best defense he’s had. The limiting factor is head coach Dennis Allen, his teams tend to underachieve.

The Final Four

4. Detroit Lions: 11-6
The Lions closed the year 5-1, finished fourth in total offense at 380 yards per game, and fifth in scoring at 26.6 points per game. The offense has a top-five line and adds a dual-threat back in rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, a deep-threat receiver in Jameson Williams back from suspension in Week 7, and underrated rookie tight end Sam LaPorta.

The defense adds impact free agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson from Philadelphia along with rookies Jack Campbell at linebacker and preseason star Brian Branch at corner. The run defense will need Campbell to step up, it was a weakness last year.

Head coach Dan Campbell has the Lions believing in themselves and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson may land a head coaching job next year. The Lions are poised to make a leap.

3. San Francisco 49ers: 11-6

Possibly without Nick Bosa and George Kittle early on, the Niners may stumble out of the blocks yet again. The offense is capable of carrying the team with the league’s best set of weapons and Kyle Shanahan now has Christian McCaffrey at the start of the season.

The defense is built on getting pressure up front, without Bosa and lacking depth at edge, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks may need to dial up more blitzes. The problem is with Deommodore Lenoir playing in the slot on passing downs, the second corner (Ambry Thomas or Sam Womack) is vulnerable deep.

Special Teams are a mystery box. The schedule is unforgiving with the Niners having the least rest compared to their opponents over the course of the season, and they rank 2nd in air miles (to Seattle), adding to injury risk.

The defense is in transition, as many as four rookies could emerge as starters or elevate to key roles late in the year. Darrell Luter Jr. at CB2, Ji’Ayir Brown at free safety, Jalen Graham at LB3, and Robert Beal Jr. at speed edge on passing downs.

Shanahan has built a team to succeed in the regular season and make the Final Four – only to lose matchups on the offensive line against elite pass rushers in the biggest games - which continue to prevent Lombardi No. 6.

2. Dallas Cowboys: 12-5

Stephon Gilmore gives the Cowboys a smart DB to counter Trevon Diggs always going for the pick. Dallas is deeper this year and drafted well, but they will only go as far as Dak Prescott allows. Dak’s gonna Dak.

1. Philadelphia Eagles: 13-4

No one repeats in the NFC East, the Eagles lost seven starters and both coordinators, therefore Dallas. The problem with that is it doesn’t account for the league’s best GM Howie Roseman, who has built a matchup gap over the rest of the top teams in the NFC.

One coordinator was a loss, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, but he has laid the foundation for Jalen Hurts and the offense. The loss of defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon was addition by subtraction, replaced by Vic Fangio protégé Sean Desai.

Losing Javon Hargrave was a blow, but rookie Jalen Carter has broken a blocking sled and two starting linemen in the preseason, pancaking All-Pro Joel Bitonio of Cleveland. Rookie sub-4.4 40 edge Nolan Smith will also be part of the new mix, along with redshirts DT Jordan Davis, LB Nakobe Dean, and OG Cam Jurgens.

The Eagles will be playing for the final shot at a Super Bowl ring for All-Pros Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson. Both will dominate their matchups.

Playoffs

Wild Card:
7 Atlanta at 2 San Francisco
6 Seattle at 3 New Orleans
5 Dallas at 4 Detroit

Divisional
6 Seattle at 1 Philadelphia
2 San Francisco at 5 Dallas

The Niners win with Javon Hargrave creating a muddy pocket for Dak.

Championship
2 San Francisco at 1 Philadelphia

Champion Philadelphia

The Eagles win for the same reason as last year, owning the trenches. The Niners' offensive line still lacks the talent needed to stop the league's best defensive lines.