Bill Williamson and MSNBC like them some 49ers football

by David Fucillo on Sep 2, 2007 2:08 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

Seeing as I write this 49ers blog, I'm clearly a big time 49ers fan. I think of myself as a realistic optimist that thinks the team is definitely improving and taking the next of several steps. A playoff spot is possible, but at worst I just want to see some solid improvement in all facets of the game.

Enter Bill Williamson, a sports writer at MSNBC.com. I don't read a lot of msnbc.com, but after seeing Williamson's column from August 28, I might just have to start checking it out a little more often:

Powerful Pats will win Super Bowl -- over 49ers

So...ummm....alrighty then. Every year some reporter makes an outlandish prediction because he figured on the off chance it does come true, he looks like a genius. If it does not come true, well no skin off his back since people will usually forget it. Well, Bill, nice little prediction there. In Williamson's rundown of the playoff teams and results, he has the following to say related to the 49ers:

NFC West

San Francisco
Seattle
Arizona
St. Louis

Remarkably, this is the NFC's best division and one of the better ones overall. Unlike the other three divisions, there is no clear-cut favorite. All four teams could make the playoffs. We like the upstart 49ers. It should be a lot of fun with all four teams candidates for winning seasons.

NFC Playoffs

Seeds

Dallas
San Francisco
New Orleans
Chicago
Seattle (wild card)
Arizona (wild card)

Wild-card round: New Orleans over Arizona; Seattle over Chicago.

Divisional round: Seattle over Dallas; San Francisco over New Orleans.

NFC championship game: San Francisco over Seattle.

Super Bowl
New England over San Francisco

Why? The Patriots are a big favorite and the 49ers are a big underdog. But underdogs strike it big all the time. Still, watch for the best roster in the business to end a San Francisco revival.

I will give him credit for some originality. I doubt ANYBODY else is seriously predicting the 49ers in the Super Bowl. I'd like to see it happen but I'm certainly not holding my breath in anticipation this year.

So I guess the question would be, what do you think the 49ers chances would be of even reaching the Super Bowl? I'll throw up a poll more out of curiosity than anything else with percentage chance of making it. I think this team has the talent to do it if just about every break went there way. Later this week, I'm planning on throwing out my best and worst case scenarios for the team, but for now let's consider this option under best case.

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Comments

Playoffs?!? Playoffs? I just we win another game

Seriously, though, once you're in the playoffs, anything can happen (see the Steelers two years ago). It just feels to me like, in order to even make the playoffs, we pretty much need as much luck as we did last year. I think we overachieved last year, only by a game or so, but we need probably two games real improvement, plus that luck again, or some fairly serious improvement.

Then, once you're in the playoffs, well, anything's possible.

Pretty unlikely, though

by spikydavid on Sep 2, 2007 3:07 PM PDT reply actions

First things first...

this season's goals should include:

Alex Smith getting a passer rating consistently above the 50's
A. Smith being mentioned in the top rung of NFC QB's instead of the bottom
keeping Gore healthy for the deeper playoff runs we will no doubt expect over the next 5 years
Not giving up the most points in the NFL
Beating the prickly AZ Cards at least once
NOT have a kicker lead our team in scoring
Establishing the nickname "The Disease" for Vernon Davis
More SportsCenter highlights that commercials for The Disease
Finish drives by crossing the goal line; a unique concept that results in 6 points (instead of the 3 we got so used to from 2004-2006)
Improve on last year's record by at least 1 win
Send a couple of our young defenders to the Pro Bowl (Lawson, Spencer, Willis, I'm calling you)

I understand that writer's get paid to write, and bold predictions sell newspapers and drive web traffic. I get all that. I just wonder how many games Bill Williamson actually watched.

The 49ers are a promising young team, and I expect them to provide thrills that will keep me watching all season, but to expect them to flourish in even a weakened NFC so soon is a bit optimistic.

I hope I'm wrong.

by oooreebay on Sep 2, 2007 3:23 PM PDT reply actions

re:

I like "The Disease", but it sounds a little negative, as if that's something you'd call Terrell Owens. I've always called VD "The Burning."

It burns! It burns!

by Cruella Loville on Sep 3, 2007 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions

The burning

Interesting option....The reason I prefer the Disease is because Vernon Davis will run rampant over the league.

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by David Fucillo on Sep 3, 2007 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions

What's Williamson smoking?

I love the Niners, but I find that prediction a little over the top. Then again, I was around when the Niners went from 6-10 to win the Super Bowl the next year, so greater things have happened.

I do think the Niners, personnel-wise, have made a great leap this year. And you don't have to have a perfect team to win, just a damn good one.

I think that Smith and the rest of the offense are a lot better than they showed in preseason, and the same with the defense. I just don't know how much, but I suspect two or three games' worth, which might get them the division title and probably a wild-card. I don't see anyone else in the division to be appreciably better, no standouts like the Chargers or Pats or Colts.

But whatever Williamson's smoking I bet if I had some there would be six or seven Sundays where the pain wouldn't be so bad.

by Bob In Pacifica on Sep 2, 2007 3:47 PM PDT reply actions

The Best Part...

is that Williamson's "day" job is. or at least was, as the Broncos beat writer at the Denver Post...

Mile High Report

The Sports Guru

by TheSportsGuru @ Niners Nation on Sep 3, 2007 8:03 PM PDT reply actions

it could happen

it probably won't, but it could. I think we have a very good shot at making the playoffs this year, hopefully by winning the division, but wild card is a possibility also. Once we're there, anything can happen, but I don't see us going very deep unless we're playing at home. I'm ok with small steps though: this year, back to the playoffs. next year: all the way.

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Sep 4, 2007 9:09 AM PDT reply actions