Niners Nation
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in 49ers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The San Francisco 49ers sit alone at the top of the NFC West with a win over each divisional opponent. Winning your division is the simplest path to the playoffs. The 49ers aren’t just handling business within the division. They are currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Had it not been for a four-turnover game and a punt return allowed for a touchdown, the 49ers would be undefeated.
Still, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. The 49ers’ loss was to an AFC opponent. Being 4-0 in the conference is a huge deal down the line in terms of tiebreakers. Speaking of head-to-head, winning a pair of divisional games with a backup quarterback should give the front office enough confidence to swing a trade at the deadline, which brings us to our next question.
Have the 49ers done enough through five games to make a serious investment at the deadline?
The 49ers have a +8 point differential, which is third in the division and eighth in the NFC. They’re winning, but by the skin of their teeth. It’s a bottom-line business, but it’s fair to question whether this is a contender or not.
Then you start to look at the schedule, and the players coming back from injury, and wonder why this team wouldn’t make a push. Malik Mustapha could return as early as this Sunday. George Kittle is likely a week away. Ideally, the 49ers get Ben Bartch back over the next couple of weeks. Kittle and Bartch dramatically improve the running game, while Mustapha could argue he’s the best player in the secondary.
Who knows how long Brock Purdy will be out, or when Brandon Aiyuk returns. Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Houston, and New York are not a difficult stretch. Those are the games ahead of the trade deadline. Let’s pretend as though Purdy and Aiyuk miss those games. Let’s act as if Ricky Pearsall sits out this Sunday.
The Bucs are going to be a challenging opponent on the road with that offense. You cannot say the same about the other three opponents. If San Francisco can go 3-1 ahead of the trade deadline, they would be 7-1, and, at worst, have the best record in the NFL. Even if we are conservative with our predictions, and say the Niners split over the next month and go 2-2, there’s plenty of reason to add firepower at the deadline.
The Rams and Cardinals are the first two games post-deadline, which might be enough to convince John Lynch and the front office to be aggressive. What do you think, have the 49ers done enough through five games to make an aggressive trade at the deadline?
