SF 49ers 2020 season hangs in balance with upcoming schedule

The SF 49ers’ tough upcoming schedule may make-or-break their dimming playoff chances.

Last season, the SF 49ers headed into a brutal three-game stretch of their schedule as they were due to face the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints with the last two being on the road. Many said it would define their season because, even with a 9-1 record, the strength of the teams they had faced to that point was in question.

To their credit, the SF 49ers won two of those three games, losing only to the Ravens 20-17 in a slugfest in Baltimore.

From then on, it was no longer a question if the Niners were for real.

Fast forward to the 2020 season, with an injury-riddled 49ers team sitting at 2-3 and coming off embarrassing back-to-back losses at home to the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins, respectively. They face the rest of this season now with a tremendous sense of urgency.

The SF 49ers will face the 4-1 Los Angeles Rams at home before hitting the road to face quarterback Cam Newton and the 2-2 New England Patriots. They then go to Seattle with another division showdown against quarterback Russell Wilson and the undefeated Seahawks before heading back to Levi’s Stadium to face Green Bay, another undefeated squad.

If that wasn’t a tough enough stretch, the SF 49ers then go to New Orleans in a rematch of the 48-46 barnburner they played there last year against quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints. Then it’s back to Los Angeles for their rematch against the Rams before coming home to face the also-undefeated Buffalo Bills in Week 12.

It’s safe to say that after this stretch of games, the 49ers season will, for all intents and purposes, likely be settled.

While the injuries have rocked both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, San Francisco’s offense seemed to be getting healthy at just the right time. With the Dolphins coming to Santa Clara at 1-3 and struggling themselves, this game was thought to be a “get right” game for head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co., just in time for the gauntlet of games on the horizon.

With the stunning 43-17 shellacking at the hands of Miami, it appears there is a lot of work to be done across the board.

And unlike last season, when the defense oftentimes carried the team in big moments, it may be quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers offense that will need to handle the heavy lifting in order to give this team a chance at defending their NFC championship in January.

Ultimately, Garoppolo’s health and play will determine the Niners season. If Sunday was any indication, Garoppolo’s recovery from the high-ankle sprain is in question, and the offensive line is certainly not doing him any favors. If they can get those things corrected, and with weapons like running back Raheem Mostert, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and tight end George Kittle all back in the fold, this offense should be better as the season progresses.

With the slate of games this team faces over the next month or so, and the overall health of this team, time may not be on the Niners’ side to turn things around and make a run at a playoff spot.