3 reasons why 49ers win Super Bowl 55 in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 2020 NFL Schedule Isn’t as Tough as It Seems
We don’t yet know what the 49ers’ 2020 schedule will be, but we do know the opponents and whether or not they’ll be on the road or at home.
In short, here are the opponents:
Home
Arizona Cardinals*
Seattle Seahawks*
Los Angeles Rams*
Miami Dolphins
Green Bay Packers
Washington Redskins
Buffalo Bills
Philadelphia Eagles
Away
Arizona Cardinals*
Seattle Seahawks*
Los Angeles Rams*
New Orleans Saints
New England Patriots
Dallas Cowboys
New York Jets
New York Giants
* denotes NFC West squad 49ers will play twice
San Francisco’s opponents’ 2019 win-loss percentage was .528, which will be the toughest in the NFC this upcoming year and fourth toughest in the league, as pointed out by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Brian Witt.
And while we have no clue how any of those teams will fare this offseason and in the regular season, it’s probably a safe bet the Jets, Giants, Redskins and Dolphins will be winnable matchups. Likewise, the Rams and Eagles are trending in the wrong direction, while the Cardinals are probably a full year away from playoff contention.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have more free agency questions than real solutions. A new head coach, too.
The Saints and Patriots, meanwhile, have serious questions about long-term quarterbacking, as veterans Drew Brees and Tom Brady (who is hitting free agency) could hit a serious regression point in 2020.
Out of that crop, one could argue the Seahawks, Packers and Bills pose the most serious threats to San Francisco.
Given how the 49ers handled their business against Green Bay twice last season, one could argue the prospects for a similar outcome in 2020 would be likely.
All this points to a very clear shot at a top-two seed in the NFC again, which would provide a needed path to return to Super Bowl 55.