Stacking the Box podcast: 49ers still miss the playoffs in 2019

The San Francisco 49ers are off to a hot start with back-to-back wins on the road to start 2019. But according to the FanSided Stacking the Box podcast, playoffs are still going to be out of reach.

The San Francisco 49ers are in an excellent spot to start off their 2019 campaign with a 3-0 record.

After back-to-back road wins in Weeks 1 and 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively, the Niners are poised to host the Ben Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday with a chance to secure three wins to start the season for the first time since 1998.

That year, San Francisco finished with a 12-4 record before being eliminated in the divisional round by the Atlanta Falcons.

But the 49ers’ hot start this year has conjured up thoughts head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad could make the postseason for the first time since the 2013 campaign under then-head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Along with the 49ers, the 2-0 Buffalo Bills are also something of a feel-good story early in 2019. Buffalo went 6-10 last year, yet suddenly finds itself on the rise, too.

So that prompts the question: Are the Niners and Bills bound for the playoffs this year?

Not according to FanSided’s Stacking the Box podcast, featuring insider Matt Verderame and former NFL offensive tackle Geoff Schwartz, unfortunately.

“Both teams are off to a 2-0 start, they’ve both been impressive,” Verderame said. “Both 2-0 on the road. The Bills are playing at home against the Bengals this week, and they’re going to start 3-0, I would think. The same goes for the Niners, who are getting [Steelers quarterback] Mason Rudolph and company. … The Niners, that’s a tough division. A quarter of your season is Seattle and the Rams. I do think these teams are going to be in it, but I don’t know that both will get in.”

Verderame does bring up a good point. San Francisco’s schedule only gets tougher from here.

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/18/2019.

Rudolph is still an unknown commodity, and the 1-1 Cleveland Browns could pose a tough challenge. Back-to-back road games against the Rams and Washington Redskins could be problematic, too.

Weeks 8 and 9 against the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals could be winnable, yes. But the Seahawks, Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens aren’t shoo-in victories at all.

Meanwhile, quarterback Drew Brees (hand) is expected back when the 49ers visit the New Orleans Saints in Week 14.

“The Niners are in a very tough NFC,” Schwartz continued. “The NFC is much tougher right now… the Bills have a decent chance of making it possibly as a wild card. But the Niners, I think, the schedule is rough. They’ve played two patsies. I want to see them play a really good team first.”

You can listen to the entire Stacking the Box podcast by clicking the video below:

For the section on the Niners and Bills, fast-forward to the 23:47 mark.

And we’ll have to see whether or not Verderame and Schwartz change their opinions if San Francisco comes away with a win over the Steelers in Week 3.