Can the San Francisco 49ers repeat last year’s Super Bowl run?
The 49ers experienced a dramatic turnaround on their run to the Super Bowl.
In the 2018 season, the San Fransisco 49ers finished with a pitiful 4-12 record. One year later, the same Niners finished as the top seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record and were one bad quarter away from winning the Super Bowl.
As impressive as this one-year turnaround was, it also makes it easy to chalk up the team’s 2019 season as an outlier, something that is not to be replicated. In order to understand if this team is set up for repeat success, we must analyze what made their 2019 season so successful and how the changes they made in the 2020 offseason will affect said success.
For many 49ers fans, the 2018 NFL season ended in Week 3 when newly added quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Though the 2018 campaign was filled with backup quarterbacks and subpar defense, there still remained hope for the team’s future. Armed with high draft picks and an established head coach in Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers were poised for a quick turnaround.
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Leading into last season, San Francisco signed two star defenders in edge-rusher Dee Ford and inside linebacker Kwon Alexander. The franchise also added edge-rusher Nick Bosa with the second overall pick, an addition that proved instrumental to the team’s success as Bosa racked up 32 solo tackles and 9.0 sacks en route to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Niners inked Tevin Coleman in free agency while drafting wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the second round. Though Coleman was often outshined by his backfield peers in the Bay Area, he put together some solid games and was a change of pace. Samuel, meanwhile, emerged as the team’s top wide receiver, registering nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards.
As mentioned, these moves helped guide the 49ers from having the second-worst record in the league to going 13-3 with all three losses coming on late-game plays. Along the way, the team finished second in points scored and eighth in points allowed while coming up just short in the Super Bowl.
That’s how the 49ers won in 2019 but can they do it again in 2020?
What San Francisco accomplished last season was not a fluke. The question remains, though: Can they repeat their run? That depends on the changes made to the team’s roster and the opponents that stand in their way in the 2020 season.
The 49ers traded away defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and running back Matt Breida while letting wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, a midseason trade addition last year, walk in free agency. Longtime left tackle Joe Staley also retired this offseason. Through trades and the draft, however, San Francisco attempted to fill some of the holes they were left with.
During the draft, the Niners used two first-round picks to select Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk, each taken to replace Buckner and Sanders, respectively. Both players not only offer immediate help but the potential to make the team better down the line. Meanwhile, they also traded for seven-time All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams to fill the void left by Staley’s departure.
The biggest difference from 2019 to the upcoming season for the 49ers is the wide receiver corps. Not only is the team going to have to adjust to Samuel being the No. 1 wide receiver but he suffered a foot injury in offseason workouts. If he’s not ready to go by Week 1 — which is looking quite possible — Kendrick Bourne may be the team’s lead wideout. Yikes.
It’s hard to foresee the offense having the same success as last season with the wide receiver group muddled. However, Garoppolo is still a solid quarterback and the defense is likely going to remain elite, thus setting the offense up in better position. It’s also important to note that George Kittle remains intact and ready to be the top target on offense regardless of the receivers.
The NFC West competition, though, is the most concerning threat to San Francisco repeating their success this season. Seattle challenged the Niners for the division last year. Arizona should have one of the NFL’s most potent offenses. And Los Angeles still has a solid unit on both sides of the ball. This could be the most competitive division in the NFL.
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Despite this and the team’s losses, the 49ers will compete atop the NFC in 2020. Their defense will keep them in every game. But the offense might lack the consistency to get them through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. Their chances, simply put, are not as great as they were a year ago.