Niner Noise
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NFL predictions: 3 reasons why the 49ers make the playoffs in 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after an 11-yard touchdownagainst the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after an 11-yard touchdownagainst the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Aldrick Robinson #19 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after recovering a fumble by the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Aldrick Robinson #19 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after recovering a fumble by the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Reason No. 2: Weeks 2 through 6 Were Promising Indicators

Remember that stretch of games earlier this season where the 49ers were losing by no more than three points?

In case you don’t, here you go:

49ers 2017 Schedule, Weeks 2 through 6
Scor Scor
Week Day Date OT Rec Opp Tm Opp
2 Sun September 17 4:25PM ET boxscore L 0-2 @ Seattle Seahawks 9 12
3 Thu September 21 8:25PM ET boxscore L 0-3 Los Angeles Rams 39 41
4 Sun October 1 4:05PM ET boxscore L OT 0-4 @ Arizona Cardinals 15 18
5 Sun October 8 1:00PM ET boxscore L OT 0-5 @ Indianapolis Colts 23 26
6 Sun October 15 1:00PM ET boxscore L 0-6 @ Washington Redskins 24 26

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/18/2017.

Close doesn’t count in the win column, but it’s important to point out the net difference in point spread was minus-13. Two of those losses came in overtime, and four of the five games were on the road. And all this happened while the 49ers were “relatively” healthy.

Injuries started piling up towards the middle of the season, though, and that forced the team to take whatever it could off the scrapheap pile.

But go back to just how close those losses were. A play here, a play there. A first-year head coach, Kyle Shanahan, and first-year defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh, are still learning the ropes.

And one can only imagine if the Niners were experiencing just average quarterback play during that stretch.

Having some fun, let’s go ahead and assume San Francisco pulled off wins in each of the aforementioned games. The team would be 6-4 instead of 1-9, and the playoff discussion would be here. Right now.

Maybe the 49ers aren’t quite as bad as we thought.