Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Way Too Early Win-Loss Predictions for 2016 NFL Season

By Peter Panacy

Nov 27, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage as San Francisco 49ers center Marcus Martin (66) snaps the ball to quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 19-3 in the Thanksgiving Day game.Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage as San Francisco 49ers center Marcus Martin (66) snaps the ball to quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 19-3 in the Thanksgiving Day game.Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
17 of 17
Next
Nov 27, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) meets with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) after the game at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 19-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) meets with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) after the game at Levi’s Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 19-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Week 17 vs. Seattle Seahawks

The 49ers’ playoff hopes have long evaporated by Week 17. But if recent history has anything to do with what will happen in the Niners’ final game of the season, it may point to this contest being of some major importance to the Seattle Seahawks.

San Francisco faces its division rival on New Years Day, which is fine and all, and Seattle may be looking for playoff seeding and/or a shot at the NFC West title depending on how things have gone through the previous 16 weeks.

So this game may be of some importance for both teams — the Seahawks for playoff implications and pride for the Niners.

It would be oh-so nice to come out and say the 49ers spoil the Seahawks’ close to the regular season. But San Francisco isn’t quite there yet. And, based on what we saw last season, beating up on Seattle is likelier to take place early on than in the latter half of the year.

That will be the case here. It’s just too hard to see the 49ers pulling off an upset.

Prediction: Loss

More from Niner Noise

Let’s tally up the record. San Francisco pulls off a 1-5 record within the NFC West and compiles a 5-11 season overall.

No, that’s not very good. And we realistically shouldn’t expect it to be.

The important thing to remember is the 49ers are in the midst of a rebuilding phase and undergoing a total transformation from the coaching staff on down through the roster.

Sure, it’s possible San Francisco comes out and “shocks” the world. But few reasonable arguments would bet the house on that.

So, instead of the records and divisional standings, fans should be paying attention to how younger players are developing and how the coaching staff is getting units to jell on both sides of the ball. Those elements are far more important in the 49ers’ long-term scope of things.

Next: 49ers 2016 Schedule & Analysis

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