The San Francisco 49ers have missed the postseason two years in a row under head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
But that was just once, and it occurred between 2017 and 2018 when the Niners were still in the stages of an all-out rebuild.
Should San Francisco miss the playoffs twice in a row again, this time after paying a hefty chunk of superstar talent, it'd be a notable stain on an otherwise impressive accolade list for both Shanahan and Lynch.
True, the 49ers are retooling after 2024's frustrating 6-11 campaign and last-place finish within the NFC West. But, still loaded with star talent like tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner, defensive end Nick Bosa, running back Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Brock Purdy, there aren't too many excuses that'd work if the Niners failed to qualify for postseason play.
However, that's precisely what Pro Football Network is predicting.
Pro Football Network's playoff predictor suggests disappointment for 49ers in 2025
PFN's playoff predictor is an entertaining tool and can take into account a number of different scenarios and X-factors. But, like any prediction machine, it's far from perfect at determining what actually happens.
Still, the PFN predictions for the NFC playoff outlook after Week 18 are as follows:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Detroit Lions
- Los Angeles Rams
- Atlanta Falcons
- Washington Commanders
- Green Bay Packers
- Arizona Cardinals
Correct, San Francisco isn't in the postseason, at least according to this prediction. Instead, the NFC West sends two teams, the division-winning Rams and Wild Card-grabbing Cardinals, into the playoffs.
Of note, citing a 43-percent playoff probability, the red birds are PFN's postseason sleeper.
Perhaps, and Arizona invested heavily in its defense during the offseason, which bodes well for head coach Jonathan Gannon and not so much for Shanahan, Purdy and Co.
Should something like this take place, yes, there'd be a slew of critical questions tossed in the 49ers' direction, especially considering the roster remains stacked despite so many offseason departures and changes.
Fortunately, most predictions ultimately prove not to come true, and that's what Niners fans will be hoping for in this case.
