The 49ers’ first-place schedule isn’t as daunting as it sounds when matched up against projected win totals for the 2020 season.
What stands out in an evaluation of San Francisco’s opponents is how many teams teeter on the edge of ‘playoff team’ and ‘bad team.’ We could look back on the season and determine the 49ers had a near impossible schedule, but we could also wonder how they ever lost a game.
To keep track of how their opponents are doing, we’re going to power rank them throughout the regular season. Here are our initial preseason rankings:
13 | Washington
No. 2 overall pick Chase Young joins an already talented defensive line that could make Washington’s defense difficult to deal with. Until quarterback Dwayne Haskins proves capable of leading an offense that has some talented weapons, they’ll remain at or near the bottom of the power rankings.
12 | New York Giants
New York is in a similar spot to Washington where their improvement will ride on their second-year signal caller. Daniel Jones had a little more success than Haskins in his first season so they get the leg up for now. The Giants’ big issue will be whether their defense can stop anyone.
11 | Miami Dolphins
Miami has perhaps the best chance of any team to climb on this list. They signed cornerback Byron Jones and linebacker Kyle Van Noy in free agency, and put together a nice draft class headlined by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Head coach Brian Flores did a nice job last year with a much worse roster. If a couple things go their way, the Dolphins could make noise in a somewhat questionable AFC East.
10 | New York Jets
Injuries ravaged New York’s roster last season, but they still managed to go 7-9 with a couple nice wins along the way. They had the worst offense in the league last year, and didn’t do much to help quarterback Sam Darnold in the way of weapons. Even if they stay healthier in 2020 it’s hard to imagine they’re a lot better than a .500 team.
9 | Los Angeles Rams
LA didn’t respond well to its Super Bowl loss and missed the playoffs last season. Their salary cap situation and lack of draft capital kept them from making any major improvements, and they didn’t address an offensive line that struggled badly last season. Perhaps head coach Sean McVay has a big turnaround in store, but it’s hard to envision that happening based on last season’s showing.
8 | Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals had the look of a team last season that was trending in the right direction. Then in the offseason they added wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and used the No. 8 overall pick on do-everything linebacker Isaiah Simmons. Quarterback Kyler Murray should also be better in Year 2 after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. All signs point to the Cardinals pushing for a playoff spot.
7 | New England Patriots
The Pats are the toughest team to gauge since Tom Brady’s exit puts a question mark over them that hasn’t existed in two decades. Bill Belichick is still an all-time great head coach and a defensive wizard who’ll make his team difficult to beat regardless of who’s under center. Taking Brady away though means we can’t just pencil the Pats in as a double-digit win team and AFC East winners.
6 | Seattle Seahawks
Once again the Seahawks had a head-scratching offseason. However, Russell Wilson is still their quarterback so it doesn’t feel like their offseason matters much. They’re going to be in the mix because Wilson is still under center. He’s also equipped with a better stable of receivers than he’s had in a long time. Now all Seattle needs to do is bring its offense into 2020 and they’ll be dangerous.
5 | Philadelphia Eagles
Injuries kept Philadelphia from winning double-digit games last year, and possibly winning a playoff game. Doug Pederson has done a nice job despite his ailing roster, and Carson Wentz threw for 4,039 yards and 27 touchdowns last season despite having to throw to nine different receivers, several of whom will not be on the team again in 2020. Their secondary should be better after trading for cornerback Darius Slay, and an influx of talent at receiver should put their offense in a better position to thrive.
4 | Dallas Cowboys
Perhaps new head coach Mike McCarthy won’t be the cure-all for a stagnant, underwhelming Cowboys offense. It certainly won’t be a lack of weapons. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb fell to No. 17 in the draft and will join Amari Cooper, Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. That’s a good group that should put up a ton of points. Losing Byron Jones in free agency will hurt their secondary, and Travis Frederick’s retirement could make a once dominant offensive line take a step back. Still, they have enough offensive playmakers to put up a ton of points if McCarthy can overhaul that side of the ball.
3 | Green Bay Packers
There’s an argument to be made that Green Bay should be lower on this list. They’re trying to make dramatic offensive changes in a year where the offseason could be trimmed to nothing. They didn’t add a player in the first round of the draft to help quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and instead opted to trade up and select his replacement. Their defense should be good again though after finishing ninth in scoring last season, and Rodgers is a future Hall of Famer who’s always a threat regardless of who’s playing alongside him. Perhaps Green Bay’s 13-3 record was a fluke a year ago, but they won’t be bad in 2020.
2 | Buffalo Bills
The Bills were a couple plays away from winning a playoff game on the road last year. Their defense finished No. 2 in scoring and No. 3 in yards allowed. That unit should be among the NFL’s best again. Quarterback Josh Allen is the wild card due to his accuracy issues, but he’s a good athlete who can extend plays with his legs and hurt defenses that don’t account for him as a runner. Trading for Stefon Diggs gives the Bills’ offense the best receiver its had since Allen arrived. They should run away with the AFC East.
1 | New Orleans Saints
New Orleans’ early playoff exit last year wasn’t indicative of their season as a whole. They’re still arguably the best team in the NFC, and quarterback Drew Brees is adapting his game to his declining skill set to make himself ultra effective even as he enters his 40s. The Saints also added Emmanuel Sanders in the offseason. He will fit in nicely next to Michael Thomas. While they’ve largely been known for offense under Sean Payton, New Orleans’ defense has quietly emerged as one of the league’s best. Their roster is the only one in the conference close to as complete as San Francisco’s.
