49ers 2020 NFL schedule: Too-soon win/loss predictions

Weeks 14-17

Week 14: Dec. 13 vs. Redskins, 4:25/1:25 PM

The 49ers traveled to the Washington, DC/Baltimore area of the country twice last season and played in two of the wettest games of the season during a victory of the Washington Redskins and a close loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

This season, the Redskins will fly across the country to visit Santa Clara for a Week 14 matchup of two teams who couldn’t be further away in terms of contention.

Washington has been one of the NFL’s worst teams over the last several years, and the poor start to 2019 led to the firing of former head coach Jay Gruden. Now former Panthers’ coach Ron Rivera is in town, so the franchise hopes he’ll be able to create a new and improved culture.

That being said, don’t expect the Redskins to be much better in 2020.

While they did add former Ohio State EDGE rusher Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, they didn’t make another pick until the third round, where they selected Memphis running back Antonio Gibson.

And even though they made some decent offseason moves, especially keeping offensive guard Brandon Scherff in town, this roster reminds me a lot of the 2017 49ers back when Shanahan and general manager John Lynch came on board.

So while Rivera may turn a corner in Washington, it likely won’t matter much for 2020. This is a game the 49ers should dominate.

Record: W, 11-2

Week 15: Dec. 20 at Cowboys (Sunday Night Football), 8:20/5:20 PM

These last three games are often where things begin to get interesting in terms of playoff seeding and division championships. Starting in 2020, that first seed is all the more vital, as there will only be one first-round bye for each conference.

The final run kicks off with a trip to Jerry World — otherwise known as AT&T Stadium — in Arlington, Texas to take on longtime rivals the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

In what could be the 49ers’ last prime-time game of the year, and the only one on the road, it could also be a game that will help decide final playoff seedings.

The Cowboys should have one of the stronger offenses in the NFL, with quarterback Dak Prescott (or maybe Andy Dalton) throwing to receivers like Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and rookie CeeDee Lamb. Not to mention running back Ezekiel Elliot, who torched the 49ers the last time the two teams met in October of 2017 for 219 total yards and three scores.

Dallas also improved on defense in the draft, adding Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs in the second and Oklahoma defensive tackle Neville Gallimore in the third.

These two franchises were engaged in a bitter rivalry in the 1970s and 1990s when they were often facing off in the playoffs. And while I don’t expect this to reignite that quite as fiercely as it was back then, there’s no doubt the NFL is better when both teams are in contention.

Still, I see the 49ers edging the Cowboys out and helping push themselves closer to what is hopefully that No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Record: W, 12-2

Week 16: Dec. 26 OR Dec. 27 at Cardinals, TBD

In many ways, it makes sense for it to come down to this final stretch against the two teams that will put up the biggest fight in the NFC West.

The Cardinals, having lost to the 49ers way back in Week 1, welcome the division champs to the desert in hopes of making the end of the Niners season a little more difficult.

San Francisco 49ers

And so there are two predictions about this game. First, the NFL will not move this into the prime-time slot on Saturday night like they did last year for the 49ers game against the Rams on Dec. 21. The reason for that is they’ll want to keep the final week available for a 49ers/Seahawks prime-time game.

Secondly, the Cardinals, having improved throughout the season, will knock the 49ers off at home in a close game that looks a little bit like Arizona’s trip to Levi’s last year. Except the 49ers won’t be able to complete the comeback this time.

The loss sets up another wild end to a season, with the Seahawks coming to Santa Clara to decide the NFC West. Again.

Record: L, 12-3

Week 17: Jan. 3 vs. Seahawks, 4:25/1:25 PM

And here we go again.

But this time, the 49ers get to play at home, hopefully once again donning those excellent throwback jerseys, ready to secure their second straight NFC West title and, hopefully, the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC.

If that’s the case, expect the NFL to flex this to the 49ers’ sixth prime-time game (and fifth at Levi’s) in 2020.

In all honesty, I hope this game isn’t a necessary one. That the 49ers will have already locked up both the division and the top seed and that we’ll see backup quarterback Nick Mullens trot out on the field to rest Garoppolo and the rest of the starters.

If that’s the case, then the Niners are probably content to finish 12-4 if that’s good enough for the best record in the NFC.

If not, expect another barn burner of a contest between these division rivals that ends with the Niners taking home another division title.

Final Record: W, 13-3, NFC West Champions