It felt like only yesterday that the 49ers were playing for the coveted Lombardi trophy. Now, they are far from just making the playoffs, as the 49ers lost their game yesterday to New Orleans, they’ve dropped to a 4-6 record going into a bye. With the rest of the NFC West sitting at 6-3, the 49ers hope for playoffs is starting to grow smaller and smaller for the defending NFC Champions. How have they gotten to this low of a point you may ask? Well, many factors have contributed to this lackluster season.

First and foremost, injuries to the 49ers roster week after week have changed the entire identity of the team. Many injuries have been to star players such as Nick Bosa’s season-ending torn ACL, Richard Sherman, who has barely played any snaps this year, Raheem Mostert’s constant injuries, as well as Deebo Samuel and most recently Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle missing the rest of the season. With these various injuries, the offense has had to adjust at a rate not many can adjust to. The constant switching of quarterbacks and skill positions had led to a lack of chemistry throughout the offense on top of inconsistent coaching from Head Coach Kyle Shannahan.

Secondly, the 49ers have not had the easiest of schedules. With all the injuries endured it has hindered their ability to beat teams let alone good ones. As of lately, they have had to play teams such as the Packers, Saints, and the tough opponents of the NFC West, Seahawks, Rams, and Cardinals. The schedule sees no signs of slowing down either, as they travel to Buffalo to play the Bills, and rematch all of their division rivals. It is going to take a miracle and key players to make a playoff run.

Finally, with COVID-19 affecting the season all around, the lack of a preseason and training camp have been a factor in other issues. With no play before the start of the season, many teams could not test out their rookies and see them in action. Due to this, the 49ers wide receivers have been on a carousel, with so many different players getting signed and getting cut in a small span of time. On top of this, players’ bodies cannot get accustomed to football again, which could be a factor in the major amount of injuries the 49ers have suffered.

All in all the 49ers 2020 season has been a huge letdown for the organization and the fanbase. With so many questions on the team going into the next season, the 49ers roster could look completely different compared to this year. With some bright spots on the team, however, the 49ers may not need to focus on some positions as much as they thought they needed to.