The 49ers are a top contender for the Super Bowl in 2023, but things could potentially go wrong in a quick hurry.
Perhaps no greater example in recent San Francisco 49ers history exists than the 2020 season when one wants to think about just how quickly things go wrong when they're not expected to.
That was the "revenge tour" year after the Niners suffered a heartbreaking loss in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs that previous February. Despite boasting a stacked team the following season, a slew of absolutely devastating injuries ravaged head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad to the tune of a 6-10 record and a fourth-place finish within the NFC West.
So much for a revenge tour.
Now, San Francisco has bounced back, appearing in two consecutive NFC Championship games since that forgettable 2020 season. After losing both of those yet still boasting one of the NFL's best rosters, it's reasonable to think 2023 will be the year in which the 49ers finally claim it all and win that elusive sixth Lombardi Trophy.
However, as history has shown, expectations can be far different than reality, and here are five reasons why things could go horribly wrong for the Niners this season.
No. 5: Injuries still continue to plague 49ers on a yearly basis
2020 was bad, yes. But it wasn't an anomaly. It was just the year in which San Francisco simply couldn't overcome the sheer number of injury-related losses. In other years, for the most part, the 49ers have been able to do so.
Yet the bigger picture is the fact that Shanahan's Niners have historically been on the wrong end of the injury spectrum, including being in the bottom third of injury-prone teams the last two seasons.
The data is there. You can look it up.
It doesn't take much for injuries to completely derail a season, and San Francisco found out the hard way in 2020.
The same outcome is always a threat to the 49ers and could be again in 2023.
No. 4: Brock Purdy, Sam Darnold prove to be 'not it' for 49ers
The Niners were so comfortable in quarterback Brock Purdy after his rapid ascent from being the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft into a rookie phenom late last year that they elected to trade away their highly prized draft asset from the previous season, quarterback Trey Lance, for almost nothing in exchange.
And San Francisco also liked former New York Jets and Carolina Panthers castoff quarterback, Sam Darnold, enough to pull the trigger on the Lance trade, too.
But, what if Kyle Shanahan's quarterbacking analysis is entirely wrong?
Purdy seems like the real deal, yes. However, five regular-season games and three postseason ones aren't enough to compile an adequate body of work to determine this, while Darnold's 55 starts haven't exactly inspired much confidence either.
Brandon Allen, anyone?
If both Purdy and Darnold struggle this season, not only will it wholly ruin the 49ers' 2023 campaign, but it will also forever stain the Lance trade.
No. 3: Cornerback may turn into a big problem for 49ers (again)
Remember back in 2021 when the Niners (unsuccessfully) tried to milk the last bit of playable effort from veteran cornerback Josh Norman?
That didn't work, and the corner spot ended up being San Francisco's primary liability for much of the year, prompting general manager John Lynch to spend big free-agent bucks on Charvarius Ward the following season.
Entering 2023, the 49ers attempted to solve some nickel woes by adding former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Isaiah Oliver on a two-year deal, $2.9 million of which is fully guaranteed.
Yet Oliver struggled mightily during the preseason, prompting defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to cover up the signing gaffe by saying the Niners were going to switch players around the secondary based on matchup.
"There's going to be certain matchups in the slot right there based off who that guy may be," Wilks said, via 49ers Webzone. "I'm not going to put Oliver in that situation. Demo may be that guy."
Matchups matter, but the ideal situation would be like what San Francisco had prior to 2022 when now-Denver Broncos cornerback K'Waun Williams was the automatic nickel regardless of matchups.
Oliver could be a massive liability on defense.
No. 2: 49ers offensive line is far too permeable
The 49ers do have a bit of a positive history in finding relatively unknown offensive linemen and turning them into quality players, the two most recent examples being journeyman center Jake Brendel and 2022 rookie right guard Spencer Burford.
Entering 2023, the hope is for right tackle Colton McKivitz to shine after being drafted on day three back in 2020 and seeing mere backup action since then. He's taking over for now-Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey, and it's a notable downgrade for a Niners O-line that boasts only one true household name in All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams.
According to Pro Football Focus, San Francisco's O-line enters the season ranked 18th entering 2023.
That's not necessarily a good spot to be in. And the 49ers depth here isn't particularly great either, meaning an injury or two to a starter could be absolutely devastating.
Perhaps less-known names like McKivitz and Burford impress, but that wouldn't be a safe bet.
No. 1: 49ers schedule is simply too difficult to overcome
On paper, the Niners should have something of an easy schedule despite playing a first-place group after winning the NFC West a year ago.
Their strength of schedule is in the middle of the pack at 15th with opponents owning a .514 winning percentage from last season, and they also boast a bye week squarely in the middle of the schedule in Week 9, which is also ideal.
That said, there are plenty of problems ahead of San Francisco when it comes to the schedule.
The 49ers travel the second most mileage out of anyone in the league this season, trailing only the Seattle Seahawks, yet the Niners also face the most teams either coming off a bye week or a "mini bye" from playing Thursday Night Football the week prior.
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San Francisco also has five games in the Eastern Time Zone, too, which will be more than just a little taxing.
Potentially to the point of derailing much of the 49ers' 2023 efforts.