Ranking 49ers Teams over Last 10 Years by Strength

No. 1: The 2012 Niners

When thinking of the 2012 team the 49ers fielded, one word comes to mind.

Talent.

Since the 1990s Cowboys, no team was deeper. The 49ers had two starting-caliber quarterbacks, multiple Pro Bowl players and featured nine players on the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2013 following the season.

They were truly loaded, and a midseason explosion by quarterback Colin Kaepernick set the offense off. They finished 11th in total yards and points scored.

The 49ers also started drives further up the field than any other team, with their average start being at the 32 yard line. Their opponents field position was second, with a start at their opponents own 25.

With all of this on their side, what went wrong?

Coaching

As great as Harbaugh was, he had one major flaw. Loyalty to his offensive coordinator.

Greg Roman called one of the dumbest plays ever in the Niners Week 13 loss to the St. Louis Rams.

With under three minutes remaining, up 13-6, the 49ers got fancy. It was third down and less than five to go. Kaepernick took the snap and pitched to wide out Ted Ginn. Ginn fumbled, and the Rams were able to tie it up. This eventually led to overtime.

What was so bad about it? Ginn should have held the ball, right?

Wrong.

He should have never been given the chance to fumble. The way the 49er defense was playing, the Rams wouldn’t have driven the field for seven. Game, set, match!

Instead, the 49ers lost, falling 16-13.

Even worse was the goal-line series at the end of Super Bowl XLVII. The 49ers ran on first down, and were about to run on second when Harbaugh called timeout. Roman then called three-straight pass plays against a defense with out All-Pro run defender Haloti Ngata.

Bottom Line

The 2012 Niners were five yards from a potential Super Bowl victory, engineering a 25-6 second half that was almost the greatest comeback in postseason history. It really doesn’t get much better.

Until they win it all again.

To be continued…

Next: San Francisco 49ers: Who Will Emerge as the No. 2 Wide Receiver

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com, Sports-Reference.com, 49ers.com and NFL.com unless otherwise indicated.