Niners Nation
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The San Francisco 49ers’ season isn’t over. The team is hoping they play deep into January. A couple of more wins, and we might see Fred Warner on the field again. Instead of playing the hypothetical game, let’s look back on a season that was.
Let’s be clear, the 49ers were supposed to be a playoff team this season. But that’s because the defense was supposed to do its part with Nick Bosa and Fred Warner leading the charge. The offense was supposed to get back Brandon Aiyuk around midseason, and he would have rounded into form by now and become a 1-2 punch with Ricky Pearsall, with George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey to form an explosive and efficient offense.
None of that happened. The Niners overcame a rash of injuries en route to a 12-win season. They had a conference-best 9-3 record, went 7-2 away from home, and did it without several star players along the way. Regardless of what happens in the playoffs, making the postseason after everything they endured this season feels like a successful year.
There are plenty of counterarguments. The development has taken a backseat, largely due to injuries. Robert Saleh has needed to patch holes on a weekly basis. Mykel Williams didn’t get the opportunity to learn on the fly. Alfred Collins has had a couple of splash plays, but the production wasn’t there in Year 1. You worry about the health moving forward of each of the best players on the roster. Outside of Upton Stout, there are question marks in the secondary.
With all of that said, would you consider this season a success? What are your arguments and counterarguments? Scroll down to let us know in the comments.
