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5 Reasons Why the 49ers Will be Worse than You Think in 2016

By Bryan Knowles

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on next to quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on next to quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Experts are predicting the San Francisco 49ers to be bad this season. They may be under-selling it.

January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers fan holds a sign for owner Jed York during the third quarter against the St. Louis Rams 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 fan holds a sign for owner Jed York during the third quarter against the St. Louis Rams at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Rams 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Earlier this week, we looked at five reasons why the San Francisco 49ers will be better than you think this season, and the optimists rejoiced. It’s May, after all, and it’s time for hope and optimism to shine through, right? Everyone’s alive for a Super Bowl appearance, no matter what their record was last season.

Well, we here at Niner Noise at dedicated to providing a fair and balanced look, so it’s time to turn out the lights, put on our sad music, and discuss the reasons why the 49ers might underperform their already low preseason predictions—the reasons the team might be even worse than you think.

In many ways, this is a much harder topic than saying why the team will be better, if only because the expected floor is so low. Football Outsiders projects the 49ers to go 4-12 this season, worse than any team in the NFC and worse than any team located outside of Cleveland. The 49ers are 100-1 underdogs to win the Super Bowl; how low can expectations possibly be?

Well, things can always get worse. Fans who remember the 2004-07 seasons, or the 1978-79 seasons before the beginning of the glory days under Bill Walsh, can remember just how badly football can be played. 2015 was definitely a tough season to sit through, but the 49ers have gone through eras with Lamar McHan, Tim Rattay and Trent Dilfer under center.

Things can always get worse.

Here are five reasons why the 49ers might bottom out even harder than they did last season.

Next: Can't be lucky all the time...