The 49ers enter the 2020 season with the highest expectations they’ve had since the Jim Harbaugh era in the early 2010s. They’re coming off a trip to the Super Bowl and return largely the same roster from last season.
It’s not going to be easy for San Francisco to return to the NFL’s biggest stage again. There are several challenges facing the club if they’re going to play in Super Bowl LV in Tampa. Here are the six biggest obstacles the 49ers will have to clear:
Bouncing back from Super Bowl loss
Getting back to the Super Bowl isn’t easy after losing it the previous year. Only eight Super Bowl losers have ever gone back to the NFL’s championship game the year after losing, and only the 1971 Cowboys, 1972 Dolphins and 2018 Patriots won the title a year after losing it. The 49ers have an advantage with their continuity in a shortened offseason, but the roadmap is significantly harder this season with the Super Bowl LIV loss on their resumé. Bucking that trend will be the team’s biggest challenge for all 17 weeks.