Niner Noise
FanSided

3 key takeaways from recently passed NFL CBA for the 49ers

By Akshaj Dwivedula

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Jed York, CEO of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates celebrates with head coach Kyle Shanahan after winning the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers beat the Packers 37-20. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Jed York, CEO of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates celebrates with head coach Kyle Shanahan after winning the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers beat the Packers 37-20. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Seven-team playoffs

For basically any team, adding the number of available spots in the playoffs would be a net benefit. Although recent history has negated the idea that once you’re in the playoffs, it’s anyone’s game, getting into the playoffs does offer a chance at glory and provides a meaningful experience to younger players.

However, for the 49ers, the addition of the additional spot will be more valuable simply because of the strength of their future schedule. And no, this isn’t some analysis of the various permutations 49ers schedules could take. This is simply a comment on the NFC West as a whole.

The Seattle Seahawks, despite a firm adherence to avoid spotlighting quarterback Russell Wilson, manage to stay in playoff contention because of their star quarterback. It doesn’t matter how it happens; all that matters is that until proven otherwise, the Seattle Seahawks will be a force to deal with every year.

The Arizona Cardinals took good steps forward under the first-year coach Kliff Kingsbury and with the talent of quarterback Kyler Murray as well as a defense with a star pass-rusher in Chandler Jones, they have considerable talent and could take a strong sophomore year leap off the backs of Murray’s continued growth. The Cardinals haven’t been major players in the NFC West for a while, but just as the 49ers are on the rise, they are as well.

Then there are the Los Angeles Rams, who somehow managed to regress in every meaningful way last year. While the true abilities of the Rams may reside somewhere between that Super Bowl run and last year’s team, playing within this new system would have qualified for the playoffs as the seventh team. They are also a contender for a playoff spot.

That leaves the 49ers in a division where every team has meaningful and founded playoff aspirations. An additional playoff spot only gives more buffer when dealing with such a high number of talented opponents.