Slow starts and fast finishes have defined the last two seasons for the 49ers. They struggled out of the gate more in 2021 than they did in 2022, but part of the reason they continue finding their way into deep playoff runs is their ability to play their best football down the stretch. There’s something to be said for not bumbling into the postseason.
Even last year the 49ers clinched the NFC West in Week 15, but continued stacking wins to finish the regular season.
This year they may not be able to afford an early-season stumble considering the gauntlet that is the back end of their schedule. In the 11 games between Weeks 5 and 16 they face nine teams that made the playoffs last year. Finishing strong will be paramount as always, but they have to get some wins early in the year. That means head coach Kyle Shanahan will have to reverse a trend from his coaching career and start winning more often early.
Here’s a look at how he’s fared in each month of the season during his time as the team’s head coach: