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Injuries have been a big part of the San Francisco 49ers’ landscape this summer. But at least Christian McCaffrey looks solid so far. Assuming the 49ers don’t get devastated by injuries, here are three bold predictions for the 2025 NFL season.
Closing with four straight losses, the 49ers went 6-11 last season. They also lost seven of their last eight games after a reasonable 5-4 start. However, they have reason for optimism in 2025.
If they can get their wide receiver group in a better state of health, the offense could click and hum like the 49ers have done in recent good years.
This may not seem like a hugely bold prediction, but the 49ers have been knocked down a notch or two by some NFL observers. Some have even suggested it could be another long season.
If you look at the ESPN Super Bowl odds, the 49ers are tabbed at 20-1 with an over-under of 10.5 wins. But a lot of that is based on tradition. And the 49ers will have to prove Purdy can get things done even without a star-studded surrounding cast at the receiver position.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan is firmly in Purdy’s corner, according to Sports Illustrated. He said he envisions an elite level of play from Purdy.
“That’s what you hope for,” Shanahan said. “That’s also asking a lot from him. Brock did come into a good situation, where we were at the prime of our team, and that made it a lot easier for him to play at one of the highest levels in the league. I mean, the film shows it. Everything shows it. But his job gets harder when those guys aren’t there. Now, does that mean he’s got to play better? Yeah, you hope you can elevate his game.
“Yeah, it puts more pressure on a guy when you don’t have All-Pros in a bunch of spots, but Brock’s the one that can do it. Brock’s the one who I think will play better.”
Purdy has a career record of 23-13. But he went 6-9 last season. His completion percentage was down from the previous year, and he threw for fewer yards. Also, he tossed 11 fewer touchdowns with one more interception.
But Purdy said he learned from that tough year, according to Sports Illustrated.
“I would say I was frustrated about losing the Super Bowl, and it was like, Alright, we got to get back,” he says. “That’s all I saw, was getting back. And because some of those guys are out, I have to go make plays to get us back … I was losing sight of, Bro, keep every play as simple as possible. And don’t complicate it.”
And this is a big reason why the 49ers will rack up more wins. If McCaffrey plays half that many games, don’t expect the 49ers to be in the playoffs. Their new backup running back, Brian...
