SANTA CLARA – Arik Armstead optimistically spoke from expertise when he charted the 49ers’ upcoming path.
“Our workforce is made for November and December soccer, so issues are fairly promising,” Armstead mentioned at his locker final Tuesday.
It’s November? Yep, and final week was the 49ers’ bye week. Their mojo was restored with a 31-14 win on the Los Angeles Rams simply earlier than the break. That averted a three-game dropping streak, and it staked them to a 3-0 report in NFC West motion (4-4 total).
“November, December, the climate modifications,” Armstead added. “Then issues settle in, and a variety of groups begin falling off by the wayside, and a variety of groups begin choosing it up and actually excelling.”
He’s not the one one who can forecast issues. Listed below are my outlandish predictions for the 49ers’ remaining season:
1. CAPTAINS ON DECK
The 49ers’ subsequent sport, Sunday towards the Los Angeles Chargers, will probably be their first all season with all six captains in uniform. That presumes Armstead rebounds from foot and ankle accidents which have restricted him to 2 ½ video games. Fellow captains: Nick Bosa, George Kittle, Jimmie Ward, Fred Warner, Trent Williams.
2. PLAYOFF IN PHILLY
Ebook your lodge for the 49ers’ playoff journey to Philadelphia for the divisional spherical on Jan. 21-22, when the Nos. 4 and 1 seeds collide after the 49ers win their wild-card house sport as NFC West champs.
3. CMC 1K-1K
Christian McCaffrey will end with over 1,000 yards each speeding and receiving, a feat he achieved with Carolina in 2019 (1,387 yards speeding and 1,006 yards receiving). He at the moment has 525 speeding yards, 356 receiving yards … and 34 majestic passing yards.
4. BOSA’S SACK TITLE
Nick Bosa will develop into the primary 49er to win the NFL’s sack title since that stat develop into official in 1982. He has eight sacks (a half-sack off the lead), and he’ll threaten Aldon Smith’s 19 ½-sack complete from 2012.
5. TIMELY WARNER
Mexico Metropolis, Monday night time, Nov. 21: Fred Warner forces a fourth-quarter fumble he recovers. (That is going out on a limb as a result of, nicely, the 49ers protection has just one fumble restoration this season; their particular groups have two.)
6. TOP-5 JIMMY G
Jimmy Garoppolo will surpass his career-best passer ranking (102.0), end among the many NFL’s prime 5 quarterbacks, name it a “hell of a journey” after which drop the mic. He at the moment ranks seventh (100.7).
7. JIMMY G VS. BRADY
The Dec. 11 storyline, when the Bucs go to the 49ers: Tom Brady vs. Garoppolo, winner takes the 2023 Niners job. (In the meantime, Trey Lance faucets his proper foot on the sideline to remind everybody he’ll be again.)
8. DeMECO STAYS
DeMeco Ryans turns down a possibility to educate the Houston Texans (his authentic workforce as an NFL linebacker) and returns for Yr 3 as Shanahan’s defensive coordinator.
9. KITTLE CATCHING ON
Kittle will surpass final season’s career-high of six landing catches. Then once more, one other six-pack is one other nice likelihood to endorse Bud Gentle.
10. AIYUK IS A-OK
Brandon Aiyuk will lead the 49ers in receiving yards, with the primary 1,000-yard season of his three-year profession.
11. HUFANGA HYPE
Talanoa Hufanga will go one sport with no nationwide TV analyst evaluating him to Troy Polamalu.
12. WARD & WARD
Charvarius Ward and Jimmie Ward will make an interception in the identical sport. Thoughts you, they've 9 profession interceptions mixed in 151 video games.
13. SACK STREAK
Left guard Aaron Banks, ultimately, will enable his first profession sack. (Proper deal with Mike McGlinchey will enable extra, however count on a more healthy, stronger end to his contract yr.)
14. NO BLOWN LEADS
The 49ers gained’t blow a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead ever once more underneath Shanahan, not after truly constructing on final Sunday’s benefit in L.A. (not like the NFC Championship Recreation there in January and that different playoff exit a few years in the past in Miami).
15. HOME STRETCH
The 49ers will win their subsequent 5 house video games (Chargers, Saints, Dolphins, Bucs, Commanders) and lock up the NFC West earlier than the Jan. 8 house finale towards the Cardinals.
16. SUPER BOWL REPLAY
I’m driving with my preseason predictions: The 49ers over the Vikings for the NFC crown, then a repeat of their final Tremendous Bowl win by dominating the Chargers, who’ll emerge from AFC cannibalism.