Niner Noise
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3 reasons why 49ers don’t make the playoffs in 2021

By Nick Di Marco

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /
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Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: Emergence of 49ers’ division rivals

It’s no secret the NFC West is by far the strongest division in the NFL, including the 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams. All four of these teams have a legitimate argument to be considered a Super Bowl contender, which makes the margin for error infinitely small.

Considering it’s likely that only two of the four teams in this division will make the playoffs, there will inevitably be a team from the NFC West that gets “cheated” out of a playoff spot. This is unfortunate, but it is a harsh reality as all four of these teams have multiple superstar players at most positional groups.

If the Niners slip up a bit and allow one of their rivals to sweep them on the season, or if one of their competitors just reaches a new height, they may be the odd duck out and suffer the embarrassment that is missing the playoffs as a contender.

I think most San Francisco fans who like to think of themselves as unbiased can admit the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson is a generational quarterback, and hands down one of the best in the league, and he has the ability to destroy the 49ers’ playoff hopes if he succeeds in the new Seahawks system.

Read More: Could all 4 NFC West teams make the playoffs in 2021?

The Rams, on the other hand, are the definition of an all-around team, especially with the addition of consistently underrated quarterback, Matt Stafford. The Rams also have one of the scariest defensive units in the league, so it should be noted that they, with the Seahawks, have all the talent they need to make sure San Francisco finishes third place in the division.