Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers schedule: Forecasting the final 4 games of 2018 NFL season

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes for a touchdown as Cory Littleton #58 and Bryce Hager #54 of the Los Angeles Rams defend during the first half of a game 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: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes for a touchdown as Cory Littleton #58 and Bryce Hager #54 of the Los Angeles Rams defend during the first half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers goes to ground against 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: Trent Taylor #81 of the San Francisco 49ers goes to ground against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Niner Noise takes a look at the San Francisco 49ers’ final four games of 2018, breaking down whether or not the Niners can reach win No. 3 on the year. Probably not.

There’s a good chance you’ve already seen the last of the San Francisco 49ers‘ victories for 2018 — a dominant 34-3 blowout of the Oakland Raiders back in Week 9.

That win, the Niners’ second of the year, could easily be the last victory head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. enjoy this season. As things are turning out for the remainder of this year’s NFL schedule, San Francisco’s final four games don’t exactly look easy:

  • Week 14 vs. Denver Broncos
  • Week 15 vs. Seattle Seahawks
  • Week 16 vs. Chicago Bears
  • Week 17 @ Los Angeles Rams

At 2-10, the entire focus of these final four contests shifts to evaluating which players (coaches too, for that matter) will be a part of the solution to get the team back to a relative level of competitiveness next year.

Coming off an ugly 43-16 loss in Seattle to the Seahawks in Week 13, one does have to be reminded the Niners are starting plenty of second- and third-string players. Injuries have hurt, although it’s wrong to place the blame squarely on that issue alone.

That said, one could make the argument that’s the best way for San Francisco to “tank” en route to what’s looking to be a No. 1 overall choice in the 2019 NFL Draft.

To achieve that, the Niners would likely have to lose out. The Raiders, also sitting at two wins this deep into the season, may not win another game in 2018. Perhaps the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15, but Oakland has lost to worse competition. It’s a road game too.

Let’s take a look at each one of the 49ers’ remaining contests and try to forecast what to expect during this final quarter of the season.