The 49ers are going to be good next season, but how good?
San Francisco turned heads clinching the top seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record last season, but a more difficult schedule awaits in 2020. The 49ers have a brutal midseason stretch against a multitude of playoff teams from a season ago, and they'll play the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks to close out the season.
NBC Sports Bay Area's Josh Schrock predicted that stretch will prevent the 49ers from once again gaining home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs.
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"The 49ers losing two of their last three games likely puts them out of contention for the No. 1 seed in the NFC," Schrock wrote, "but their 11-5 record easily should qualify them for a second consecutive playoff appearance."
[RELATED: 49ers consider possibility of holding camp out of state]
Is he alone? Here's what various NFL writers predicted is to come from the 49ers in 2020.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: 13-3
"[Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo] should be better with rookie Brandon Aiyuk replacing Emmanuel Sanders. The defense can recover with rookie Javon Kinlaw replacing DeForest Buckner. Trent Williams was a quick replacement for Joe Staley at left tackle, too."
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Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report: 12-4
"Plenty of NFC teams will get a crack at dethroning San Fran. In addition to two meetings with the Seahawks, the 49ers will host the Packers and Eagles and will hit the road to face the Saints and Cowboys. But these 49ers remain loaded on both sides of the ball and should (be) a sizable favorite in the NFC West."
Nick Wagoner, ESPN: 11-5
"The 49ers have no shortage of entertaining matchups. The stretch from Oct. 18 to Nov. 15 looks potentially daunting with games against the Rams, Patriots, Seahawks, Packers and Saints in consecutive weeks, and three of those are on the road."
Barry Werner, Touchdown Wire: 10-6
"Nick Bosa and the Niners have a strong year under their belts. However, that doesn’t guarantee another magical 13-3 season. Everyone will see the Niners coming in 2020."
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