SF 49ers playoff rooting guide for NFL Week 14
Playoff Hunt
AFC
Las Vegas Raiders
Like anybody else, you’re hopeful of a neverending quest of pain and suffering from these now non-Bay Area rivals.
They may now be in Vegas, but it’s still the Raiders!
Verdict: A black hole of don’t even think about it
Baltimore Ravens
Another team that beat the SF 49ers in the Super Bowl, but it’s a bit less hurtful to think about now that it’s a new era since that time.
The Baltimore Ravens are an honest enough football team under head coach John Harbaugh, but quarterback Lamar Jackson has been abysmal, so I don’t know if this is the time to hitch yourself on this bandwagon.
Verdict: A real dark horse, but if Lamar catches some form…
San Francisco 49ers
New England Patriots
Bill Belichick has had enough success, thank you.
Verdict: Somebody else needs a turn
NFC
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is the lone divisional rival I could stomach to see make a deep playoff run, as I respect what they’ve done with their rebuild and they’re exciting to watch.
They’re in a bit of a rough patch, so watch this space.
Verdict: If you can stomach a divisional rival going deep, this isn’t a bad choice
Chicago Bears
They’ve in a rut and Mitchell Trubisky has been back at quarterback again.
Verdict: This bandwagon will fall off before it makes the playoffs
Detroit Lions
In theory, they could make it if they win out, but the Detroit Lions have fired their coach and are clearly looking in a difference direction. They’re only here because, in theory, winning out gets a Wild Card.
Verdict: Another busted bandwagon
SF 49ers
Let’s not forget, the SF 49ers are still in with a shot of the playoffs. Naturally, all bandwagoning should cease if they do make it, or at least until if they lose.
Verdict: Well obviously
Washington Football Team
It’s like two magnets pulling me the other way with this. On the one hand, you have quarterback Alex Smith, an all-around nice guy who never quite got the right side with the Niners and eventually got traded away. Time has been kind to him on his SF 49ers tenure, as most recognize they didn’t give him the help needed to thrive until it was too late.
Next. 5 quarterbacks 49ers can look at for Day 3 of NFL Draft. dark
On the other hand, you have Washington’s owner, Dan Snyder. Snyder might be the most despicable and unlikeable owner in American sports since Donald Sterling got given the flick by the NBA. If you can ignore Snyder being happy, though, you can jump on here.