Revisiting the 49ers schedule

by Fooch on Sep 17, 2008 9:04 AM PDT in News Comment 14 comments

After two weeks of football, one can start to prognosticate a little more about the rest of the schedule. Injuries have occurred and teams have started to show what kind of talent they bring to the table. For a team like the 49ers, we know the offense is improved from last year. Of course, I don't think any of us can be sure exactly how improved. Personally, I think Seattle's defense is good and thus putting up 26 points (Bamm Bamm INT return excluded) is a very good sign.

Now that we know a little bit more, I thought I'd go back through the schedule with some updated predictions. All the way back in April I made initial predictions. Then in July I discussed games the team had to win if they wanted to contend for the playoffs.

Am I being remotely realistic here?

9/21 - vs. Detroit - WIN - I've predicted victory from the beginning and will continue to do so. In Know Thy Enemy I predicted a 26-24 victory, but now I'd be highly disappointed by such a close victory

9/28 - @ New Orleans - LOSS - This game got a little more winnable with the injury to Marques Colston. He might be back by this game, but even so he should be a little rusty. Of course, our problem with New Orleans has always been Reggie Bush.

10/5 - vs. New England - WIN - This is no gimme because of a stout Patriots defense, but the offense is no longer crazy fiersome. The injury to Brady could be a key to the 49ers making the playoffs.

10/12 - vs. Philadelphia - LOSS - They should have some of their other receivers back, but DeSean Jackson is helping them forget the likes of Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis. Of course that will change if he repeats this OR this.

10/19 - @ New York Giants - LOSS - While I never thought the 49ers would win this game, I did not expect the Giants

10/26 - vs. Seattle - WIN - In April I actually picked the 49ers to win at Seattle and lose at home. Even though the Seahawks receivers should be getting healthy by this point, I think the 49ers can pull out the season sweep. Seattle is not to be slept on though.

11/10 - @ Arizona - LOSS - I think this is an eminently winnable game, but I just have this feeling we lose a tight one.

11/16 - vs. St. Louis - WIN - St. Louis is awful. No excuses for losing this game.

11/23 - @ Dallas - LOSS - This will be more competitive than previously expected, but Dallas is the best team in the NFC right now, and maybe even the league as a whole.

11/30 - @ Buffalo - LOSS - Buffalo is going to give New England a run for their money. I think this will be a close game, but Buffalo post-Thanksgiving will be a tough place for a California team to win.

12/7 - vs. New York Jets - WIN - Brett Favre or not, the 49ers are better than the Jets. It should be interesting seeing Favre square off against Favre-Lite (a possible JTO analogy)

12/14 - @ Miami - WIN - The Dolphins aren't too awful but they're a long way from being good. No excuses.

12/21 - @ St. Louis - WIN - See the 11/16 Rams game.

12/28 - vs. Washington - WIN - This puts the 49ers at 9-7. Washington is going to be a tough team this year, but they haven't really wowed me to this point. This could be the game that gets the 49ers into the playoffs (of course being SOL on the tiebreaker with Arizona might end that hope).

I don't think I'm being entirely crazy with these picks. 9-7 is still a relatively ambitious projection, but considering the schedule, I don't think any of the victory projections will make you say, "Well that's just silly." Of course we still need to wait and see if the offense puts together consistent back-to-back outings, but I like where things are headed for now. Am I out of my mind?

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I think the...

… wins against the Pats and the Skins are probably the two iffy-est ones in your predictions. Cassel has a pretty good grasp of that offense, and while he’s not Brady, he can definitely follow orders from Belichick to lead the team.

by sfgfan on Sep 17, 2008 9:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was gonna say

the Pats and Jets are the two most questionable. With WAS being a third. It COULD happen that we go 9-7, but I doubt it.

Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis

by wjackalope on Sep 17, 2008 9:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Get off the Jets' nuts

There aren’t that good of a team. They barely beat the Dolphins and looked less than impressive against the Pats. They’re (and are going to continue to be) a .500 team and I don’t think it’s a strech to think the that the Niners can beat a .500 team.

by methodrampage on Sep 17, 2008 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not on their nuts

I just think they are one of the more questionable win predictions. I agree that they’re not that good and we have a shot for sure, but we’ll know a lot more once we’ve seen each team play a few more games. Maybe they’re terrible, we’ll see.

Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis

by wjackalope on Sep 17, 2008 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't mean to point you out specifically

But there were a couple other comments below that I felt were giving the Jets too much credit.

by methodrampage on Sep 18, 2008 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d imagine a L to NE and NYJ, with a possible W with WAS.

Making us 8-8, possibly 7-9 which is about where I saw us before the season began. Our defense has a lot to prove (mainly the pass rush) before I see us breaking .500.

by TexanNiner on Sep 17, 2008 9:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pats, Jets, and Skins

I still chalk those up as losses. Maybe I’m just being a negative nancy, but I just don’t think this team will get to .500

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Sep 17, 2008 10:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Very doubtful we beat the Pats

That’s a great team over there, Brady or no Brady. Favre also historically eats the 49ers for lunch, so I’d be suprised if we beat the Jets. However, I’m certain we can beat the Cardinals (as we should have last time), and I think Nawlens is also a winnable game.

STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.

by UnleashTheGore on Sep 17, 2008 10:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think there's a great chance to go to the playoffs... 10-6

New Orleans – WIN -if SF plays NO similar to how they played Seattle 3-3-5 and a 3-4 on running they can stop the pass and slow down Bush.
10/5 – vs. New England – LOSS – NE DL & OL Vs SF OL & DL
10/12 – vs. Philadelphia – LOSS – Not a blow out but Philly’s DL will have crazy numbers
10/19 – @ New York Giants – LOSS – See Philly
10/26 – vs. Seattle – WIN – will see more blitzes… Hasslebeck will get injured… Karma will prevail
11/10 – @ Arizona – WIN – not enough CBs to cover our WRs
11/16 – vs. St. Louis – WIN – St. Louis is awful
11/23 – @ Dallas – LOSS – too much TO and Barber
11/30 – @ Buffalo – WIN – Clement’s return to Buffalo… will prove his worth
12/7 – vs. New York Jets – WIN – They have no WRs or RB to help # 4
12/14 – @ Miami – WIN – No excuses.
12/21 – @ St. Louis – WIN – see above
12/28 – vs. Washington – WIN… this will be a good game.. NFC West title on line.. Home field advantage helps with the win!

Joe and Steve were under the same system for years... don't expect Smith to be super so soon.

by bayboy on Sep 17, 2008 11:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

if

we played the NFC/AFC centrals instead of the easts, we might blunder into a 9-7.

4 divisional games: I will faithful, and call this 3-1 – could easily be 2-2.
4 games vs. NFC East: 1-3
4 games vs. AFC East: 1-3, I don’t think the Jets are that bad.

NO, DET – these are both winnable, but I think we will split. 7-9, but I think that’s maybe a tad pessimistic.

The fallacy being made is that we have some chance against the better teams (we do) but worse, or “even” teams have no chance against us….

I do think ending up at 6-7 with 3 games to go might be bang on. I just don’t see us sweeping the last 3 (inc. 2 road games). One thing in our favor is that the Redskins should be languishing in 4th place in the NFC east

FIRE BRIAN SABEAN

by zenbitz on Sep 17, 2008 12:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs