Next week I have to remember to put “2019” instead of “2018.”
Welcome to the final weekend of the San Francisco 49ers season. Yes, we had expectations for something more, but it just wasn’t meant to be. So now we’ll watch the team dance with the Los Angeles Rams in a final game that has playoff implications for the other guys (READ: get destroyed) while the 49ers in turn get to see where they are picking on the draft board.
Perhaps that last detail is for the best. The 49ers have few picks in the 2019 draft and they need a pass rusher among other pieces, still. Trent Baalke left this roster in absolute shambles and it can’t be fixed in one, two, maybe even three seasons.
What have we learned? Well quite a lot. Despite being out of contention, the team has managed to play hard each and every week for Kyle Shanahan, a complete reversal of the Chip Kelly/Jim Tomsula eras where they seemed to just mail it in at this point. We’ve seen the emergence of new wide receivers in Dante Pettis and Kendrick Bourne, and the offensive line we’ve cringed and groaned at has taken a large step forward this year. The 49ers have shown progress, they just couldn’t win a lot of games.
That’s fine.
I’ve seen a lot more things to be inspired with and hopeful of the future out of the Lynch/Shanahan regime than I ever could with Baalke and his group of coaches could. It’s not that the 49ers lose, but how they lose—I’ve been banging that since the Tomsula days. Enjoy the last game, folks.
Weston Richburg looks ahead to 2019 as stressful first 49ers season ends (Maiocco)
Why the 49ers will win their season finale (Cohn)
Travis Kelce gives George Kittle autographed, game-worn jersey (Madson)
Week 17 injury report roundup (Pro Football Talk)
Five NFL records at stake ahead of 49ers’ season finale (Almquist)
49ers notes: Goodwin to miss finale, Garoppolo update, Shanahan weighs Senior Bowl (Biderman)
Sean McVay isn’t concerned about Todd Gurley’s knee (Florio)
Who can Nick Mullens pass this week for most passing yards in first 8 games? (Madson)
Dante Fowler could be 49ers NFL free agency target to upgrade pass rush (Maiocco)
Breaking down how 49ers can get No. 1 pick, and several other draft scenarios (KNBR)