While there are still a couple of big questions the 49ers need to answer before the 2023 season begins, a pair of NFL Network analysts really like their chances to be in the hunt for the top seed in the NFC for the second consecutive year.
Brian Baldinger and Bucky Brooks both rolled through the 49ers’ schedule on NFL Network and predicted the outcome of each game. While they disagreed on the final record, both are on board with San Francisco making another run.
Baldinger predicted a 12-5 finish for San Francisco with losses to Pittsburgh in Week 1, Cleveland in Week 6, Philadelphia in Week 13, Seattle in Week 14 and Washington in Week 17.
That record would make the 49ers a game worse than they were last season, but it should put them in position to sit atop the NFC West.
Brooks is more bullish. He has them a game better than they were last year at 14-3 overall. Brooks gave them wins in the Cleveland and Washington games, leaving them with losses in Week 1, 13 and 14.
If the 49ers manage a 14-3 record, it would certainly put them in first place in the NFC West. It would also put them in position to take the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The tricky part with the division and seeding are the losses in Weeks 13 and 14.
In Baldinger’s scenario a loss to Seattle in Week 14 could be what the Seahawks need to snag a tiebreaker away from the 49ers. That could be the case in Brooks’ prediction too, but two teams with 14-3 records in the same division would be unheard of.
In both cases the Philly loss may also be damaging for seeding. There’s a real chance with both clubs going into the year as favorites to win the conference that their head-to-head meeting could determine the higher seed between them. It may even be the difference in playing on wild card weekend or not.
One thing that jumps out from both is a 4-1 record through five games. That’ll be key for the 49ers to grab wins early in the year before their schedule gets particularly brutal beginning in Week 6. Kyle Shanahan’s teams have always played well going into November and December, so grabbing some wins early would be a good foundation for them to compete for the No. 1 seed in the NFC down the stretch.
