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Way Too Early 2016 Statistical Predictions for San Francisco 49ers

By Peter Panacy

Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) rushes for a gain against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) rushes for a gain against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) is tackled by St. Louis Rams free safety Rodney McLeod (23) and strong safety Maurice Alexander (31) during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Rams 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) is tackled by St. Louis Rams free safety Rodney McLeod (23) and strong safety Maurice Alexander (31) during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Rams 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

2016 Record & Division Standing

OK, it’s time for the slide about which everyone should care most: the wins and losses as well as the NFC West picture.

The 49ers will be a better team in 2016. That’s a good start. And nearly anything would be an improvement over what was seen under former head coach Jim Tomsula and Co.

Yet San Francisco is far from complete and nowhere near the upper tiers of NFL competition.

There’s still plenty of work to be done here for a team coming off a 5-11 finish and a last-place berth within the division. While Kelly alone should be enough to change some of the standings, one shouldn’t be hoping for any trips to the postseason quite yet.

For starters, San Francisco still plays in the vaunted NFC West. Teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals are coming off deep playoff pushes, and the Los Angeles Rams defense is as good as anyone else’s in the division.

On top of that, and in spite of anything Kelly does or offseason improvements that happen, the 49ers’ 2016 schedule doesn’t offer a lot of favors.

According to SB Nation, the Niners are tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the league’s toughest schedule this year. Opponents have a winning percentage of .555.

Not exactly a way to get a developing team’s confidence back up.

Or maybe it is depending on how one views competition.

At any rate, the 49ers will be hovering around the .500 mark in 2016 with an 8-8 finish at best. Even a 7-9 record to close out the year seems more likely.

This could, feasibly, earn the Niners a third-place finish within the division. The Rams have plenty of their own questions to address this offseason, and head coach Jeff Fisher hasn’t had a .500-or-better year since 2008 with the Tennessee Titans.

So there you have it, folks — some way-to-early predictions for San Francisco in the statistical realm. There are plenty of factors yet to be worked into the equation, and signs for improvement could pop up at any moment.

More from Niner Noise

The 49ers will need every one of those positives this offseason.

Until the start of 2016, fans can only hope the Niners continue to get better through free agency and the draft. And those components come together to help point San Francisco back in the right direction en route to yet another playoff berth at some point. Sometime.

Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Next: Predicting Risers, Fallers in Chip Kelly's Offense

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.