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San Francisco 49ers: Why a fast start is mandatory to make playoffs in 2018

By Jeremy Wohlfart

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 08: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter during the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 08: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter during the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Looking at why a fast start is so important

We looked at the six games to start the year, but the truth is it doesn’t get much easier before the bye in Week 11:

Week 7: Los Angeles Rams
Week 8: @ Arizona Cardinals
Week 9: Oakland Raiders
Week 10: New York Giants

Looking at this, wins against the Cardinals and Giants will be mandatory to launch the 49ers into playoff contention. The Rams and Raiders are both hard teams, but one would have to fall as well as to make it past Week 17.

The issue is if the 49ers have a 3-3 start (or worse) in their first six weeks, it puts them behind other teams going into this stretch of games. The 49ers simply have to avoid going into the bye below .500, doing so might make a playoff berth nearly impossible.