Niner Noise
FanSided

NFC West: Early predictions for each team’s win-loss record in 2018

By Jeremy Wohlfart

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Reuben Foster #56 and Brock Coyle #50 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after tackling Tyler Lockett #16 of the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Reuben Foster #56 and Brock Coyle #50 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after tackling Tyler Lockett #16 of the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 17: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 17: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

San Francisco 49ers

Season Review

It’s almost a cliche how many times we heard this now. The 49ers were heading to the basement at 1-10 when C.J. Beathard got hurt late versus the Seahawks. The 49ers had no choice but to unveil their newest acquisition in Jimmy Garoppolo, who promptly drove down the field and with no time remaining threw a touchdown.

I’ve never seen a team celebrate a 24-13 loss like that before.

Five straight wins later, and Garoppolo reinvigorated a franchise that was supposedly in need of a deep rebuild to such an extent that general manager John Lynch couldn’t pay Garoppolo quickly enough. But don’t worry, Niner Noise has gone into detail over the contract, and why it’s a mutually beneficial deal for both player and team.

State of the Franchise

Going steadily up, and hopefully staying there.

It’s still a work in progress, and there are needs to fill and expectations to meet, but you’ll be looking an awfully long time for a Niner fan who wasn’t happy about how the season has gone.

But let us look at some big things that needs improving, team needs aside, since as exciting as the Niners progression this season has been, the team is hardly perfect.

Well for one, Reuben Foster is in trouble again. The linebacker is talented beyond belief, but can’t seem to stay out of trouble. His career is no doubt in a precarious position with these latest reports, and if he manages to stay on the team he must be carefully managed.

For all of the excitement of the beginning of the Garoppolo era, the red-zone efficiency was still left wanting. Part of that can be attributed to Garoppolo still being new to the offense (he had a lot more success in the final two games versus the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Rams) but the Niners still need a reliable target. The Niners finished 27th when all was said and done, and this has to improve.

Schedule

Arizona Cardinals 
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks 
Chicago Bears 
Detroit Lions 
Green Bay Packers 
Minnesota Vikings
Denver Broncos 
Kansas City Chiefs 
Los Angeles Chargers
Oakland Raiders 
New York Giants 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers  

More from Niner Noise


The 49ers beat three playoff teams late, the Tennessee Titans, Jaguars and Rams (some say the Rams don’t count as they rested their starters, my counter is that the Rams always count because they’re the Rams) so all games are winnable.

Realistically though the inexperience of the Niners will probably see them to a record over .500, but not quite at the Rams yet. Although in saying that, should they schedule 49ers-Rams for Week 17 again, we could see a possible game for the division between the two young upstart teams in the NFC West.

Overall Season Prediction: 10-6