Are the 49ers Actually Trying to Win the NFC West in 2017?

The San Francisco 49ers were heavily active in NFL free agency but didn’t target a lot of young, up-and-coming players. Instead, the majority of veterans added signify an alternate possibility — John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan are trying to win the NFC West in 2017

Sports teams need goals. Even lofty ones that seem anything but in reach.

I remember, back in 2005, former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan hanging a banner in the team’s locker room reading something like, “Win the West.”

This came after a 2-14 season the year prior, and the Niners were going through a major overhaul. Not unlike now.

San Francisco 49ers

Of course, that goal didn’t happen. Not for a long time. But that also doesn’t mean history will repeat itself.

A few days ago, I read a piece from Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat on how the Niners could actually be pushing for a playoff spot this season. Cohn surely gets his fair share of criticism for being hard on the team. And I’ve disagreed with his takes on more than one occasion.

But Cohn brought up a really good point in this article.

In it, Cohn points out how many of the 49ers’ free-agent signings targeted players not exactly hitting the prime of their respective careers. In fact, six of them (per Cohn) will be at least 30 years old this season.

Cohn wrote:

"[John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan] inherited a two-win team, and both signed six-year contracts, removing the pressure to win right away. It seemed only natural they would go with a young roster the first season or two and lose a lot of games.Then, they started signing players who will be in their 30s next season — six of them — and I criticized Lynch and Shanahan. Wrote they were trying to be a more respectable last-place team and foolishly not building for the future.I was wrong.These veteran signings show Lynch and Shanahan believe the Niners can make the playoffs next season. Not because Lynch and Shanahan think the Niners will be great. They’re not great. But, the schedule gives them an opportunity to make a run."

Note the last sentence. San Francisco’s schedule presents an opportunity.

The 49ers Schedule and the NFC West

OK, so actually winning the NFC West is going to be a tough bout. Until proven otherwise, the Seattle Seahawks are the top dogs here.

But Seattle is no longer the powerhouse franchise it once was during the 49ers-Seahawks rivalry years. They’re a little weaker now and don’t inspire the same intimidation or fear once seen back in 2013, 2014 or 2015.

The Arizona Cardinals have a 37-year-old quarterback, Carson Palmer, under center and an aging wide receiver in Larry Fitzgerald. They’re good, much better than the 49ers, but are probably trending in the wrong direction.

Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

And, of course, the Los Angeles Rams are a mess.

It’s feasible, perhaps likely, the Niners go 3-3 within the division. An optimist’s take would even suggest 4-2. That would be something.

While we don’t know the exact schedule yet, we do know San Francisco’s 2017 opponents.

For quick reference, here’s the list of non-NFC West opponents, courtesy of SFGate.com’s Eric Branch:

#49ers 2017 non-division home schedule:
DAL, NYG, JX, TEN, CAR
49ers 2017 non-division road schedule:
PHI, WASH, HOU, IND, CHI
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) December 26, 2016

Games against the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and, perhaps, the Tennessee Titans are likely losses. But the rest could be very winnable games.

As Cohn reiterated.

The Washington Redskins are a mess. So are the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Houston Texans don’t have their quarterback situation figured out, and the Indianapolis Colts lack a defense and an offensive line.

And who knows what we get from the Carolina Panthers this season.

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If the 49ers can go 5-5, or even 6-4, in non-division games and somehow figure a way to go 4-2 in the NFC West, the Niners would have a 10-6 record.

That could earn a division title.

The X-factor in this, of course, is the Seahawks. Seattle’s strength of schedule is the 25th toughest in the NFL, according to CBS Sports’ John Breech. San Francisco’s is 20th.

But even if the Niners can’t secure the division, a Wild Card isn’t out of the picture.

At all.

A Dual-Purpose Offseason for the 49ers

All this points to the Niners actually trying to make the postseason in 2017. And that’s great. Teams need goals other than, “let’s be better than last year” or “an 8-8 record is respectable.”

So why not take a shot when the opportunity presents itself?

But these free-agent moves also help accomplish another goal. Earlier this month, Niner Noise broke down how many of general manager John Lynch’s moves were meant to add players familiar with head coach Kyle Shanahan’s system.

These players will be critical as educators for an up-and-coming class of 49ers rookies this season, next and even into the future.

So, in more ways than one, the Niners are gearing up for 2017 and a glimmer of playoff hopes but not jeopardizing the chance to prevent the next wave of red-and-gold players from developing into the team’s cornerstone pieces down the road.

It’s brilliant. It truly is.

Winning the West is a lofty goal and one fans probably won’t expect. But it wouldn’t be shocking either to see San Francisco in contention in Weeks 13 or 14.

Next: Why the 49ers Were Wise to Avoid These 5 Free Agents

And that’s such a far cry from what we’ve seen in Santa Clara over the past two seasons.