(12-30-2024, 11:08 PM)Giants Wrote: The good news after tonight’s loss - SF clinched a 4th place finish in the NFC West.
That means next year they will play the Bears, Giants and Browns rather than Dallas, Green Bay and Cincinnati. In addition, the Niners will play the usual suspects in the West, the NFC South and the AFC South.
Overall, this is a very light schedule compared to this year’s grinder.
It would be nice if they avoided Thursday and Monday night games, and given this year's record, I doubt they'll be featured outside of Sunday much. Their negative-day rest disparity (cumulative days fewer rest than their opponents) was -21, worst in the NFL this year and third worst since 2005. Over the past two seasons, they had a -41 day rest differential, twice as bad as the next worst rest differential. This season they played eight games with less rest than their opponents. Basically, they were completely screwed by the schedule makers.
From the article below:
"Although the total sample size is understandably limited by the number of games played, a 2018 study on rest disparity published in the Journal of Sports Economics concluded that a team suffering through a single day of rest disparity allows roughly 4.5 more points and is 25 percent less likely to win that game."
49ers' Brutal Schedule: Breaking Down the Unfair Rest Disparity Controversy
Does the terrible schedule contribute to more injuries? Perhaps. The 49ers lost 511 player-games to injury in 2024, about average for the NFL. But the significance of their losses, according to this article, led to 132 lost points, fifth-worst in the NFL:
Which NFL Teams Have Been Most and Least Impacted By Injuries? - Sports Info Solutions
Nine of the 10 teams with the fewest points lost to injury made the playoffs.
The extra six weeks off will do the 49ers a world of reparative good.
Good news: Purdy's injury doesn't appear to be serious. And Pearsall showed that yes, in fact, he can catch a pass. 8 receptions, 141 yards -- Brandon Aiyuk has only had two games that strong in his career. Jennings, 7 catches. Bosa, two sacks. Guerendo caught all four of his targeted passes. The patchwork OL (Zakelj and Heck started) only gave up two sacks. Niners have given up the fewest penalties in the NFL this year, that's a disciplined team.
Bad news: Two items. First, the defense needs help at the margins, pretty much all over. Not sure Sorenson keeps his job, even though the 49ers gave up the 6th fewest yards and 8th fewest yards per play in the NFL this year. DB's gave up 303 yards. LBs outside of Warner are terrible. DL outside of Bosa is terrible. And second, Moody. Wow. Big, busty bust. Currently 34th in FG percentage at 71.9%. Slight optimism: he was 13 of 14 until his high ankle sprain.
49ers I wouldn't be surprised to see gone next year: Not an exhaustive list, but...Moody. Juczsyk. Deebo.
Last interesting bit of trivia...for the past 22 seasons, the 49ers have either reached the NFC championship game or missed the playoffs entirely.
The incredible streak the 49ers extended after being eliminated from the playoffs: It’s been 22 seasons and counting!
Audaces fortuna iuvat