1 big offensive adjustment 49ers must make in final 3 games of 2024 season

It’s Ricky Pearsall time.

With the postseason all but out of their grasp, the San Francisco 49ers can now start operating with the 2025 season in mind.

That doesn’t mean the dreaded ‘tank’ where the team tries losing games to improve its draft position. It does mean they should be looking to see exactly what they have with some of the players on their roster in the final three games.

One key adjustment they need to make while turning their sights toward 2025 and beyond is getting first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall more involved in the offense.

Pearsall this season has 24 targets in eight games, but after earning six targets in Week 10, he has only nine targets in the five games since. Overall he’s turned his opportunities into 13 catches for 153 yards and one touchdown.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday told reporters he’s happy with the rookie now that he’s getting a regular chance to play and practice.

“I think Ricky’s doing a hell of a job,” Shanahan said. “I know everyone talks about the gunshot wound, but what people don’t realize is, I think I said a couple weeks ago, but he only had three practices before that gunshot wound. He missed all OTAs and all of training camp and then to get that gunshot basically went from Florida to us halfway through the season. So, I thought he did a hell of a job coming back from that, trying to learn and practice as he goes. He’s been banged up a little bit, started in Green Bay. I think he’s fought through that here the last couple weeks. I thought he did some real good stuff on tape last week. He had a couple big catches. I think he’s going the right direction and hope it keeps improving here these next three games.”

One way to ensure he’s improving is trying to get him the ball more often. In that Week 10 game where he had six targets, Pearsall hauled in four of them for 73 yards and a touchdown. His absence from the offense may just be a result of the injury issues Shanahan mentioned, but that’s something they need to resolve before the season ends.

Pearsall is a key piece of their receiving corps in the future and ironing out a more accurate trajectory for his immediate future will play a significant role in how the 49ers should operate in the offseason.

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ESPN predicts 49ers to finish 2024 schedule strong

ESPN shared scored predictions for the 2024 season’s final three weeks and it shows the 49ers finishing the season strong.

The San Francisco 49ers have just three games left in their 2024 season.

Sitting with a 6-8 overall record and a 1-4 mark in NFC West games, San Francisco is all but eliminated from the NFL playoffs.

Still, the 49ers want to end the 2024 season with some pride and they have the opportunity to finish with a winning record if they win out.

With games left at Miami (6-8), versus Detroit (12-2) and at Arizona (7-7), San Francisco has the opportunity to end the season with some momentum and set the table for a return to prominence in 2025.

Using simulations from its Football Power Index, ESPN forecasted every remaining game in the NFL’s regular season, including how the 49ers’ final three games would play out.

ESPN’s simulation forecasts San Francisco to close its final three weeks strong. Here’s what the simulation produced for scores in the 49ers’ final three games of 2024:

  • Week 16: San Francisco 24, Miami 14
  • Week 17: Detroit 38, San Francisco 31
  • Week 18: San Francisco 19, Arizona 10

While these results wouldn’t have the 49ers finishing with a winning record, it does have San Francisco closing with two more wins and a one-score loss against the projected No. 1 seed in the NFC in Detroit.

Among some of the other notable projections from ESPN’s FPI, the simulation forecasts the Los Angeles Rams to top the Seattle Seahawks in the season’s final week, 16-7, and capture the NFC West crown.

ESPN’s FPI projects the full seeding in the NFC to play out as follows: Detroit is the No. 1 seed, Philadelphia No. 2, Tampa Bay No. 3, Los Angeles No. 4, Minnesota No. 5, Green Bay No. 6 and Washington No. 7.

In the AFC, ESPN’s FPI projects the Kansas City Chiefs to capture the No. 1 seed, though Buffalo would close to within one game of Kansas City after a Chiefs loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17.

The full AFC Playoff picture looks like this per ESPN’s FPI simulation: Kansas City is the No. 1 seed, Buffalo No. 2, Pittsburgh No. 3, Houston No. 4, Baltimore No. 5, the Los Angeles Chargers No. 6 and Denver No. 7.

Kickoff for San Francisco at Miami in Week 16 is set for 1:25 p.m PT and the game will air on CBS.

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How to watch 49ers vs Bears today: Time, TV channel for Week 14

It’s 49ers vs Bears in Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season. Here’s how to watch, including time, channel, TV schedule and streaming info.

The San Francisco 49ers (5-7) enter Week 14 of the NFL season with a troubling injury report and with their playoff hopes on the verge of slipping away.

The 49ers have lost three straight and sit two games behind the Seattle Seahawks in the race for the NFC West title.

San Francisco is without its top two running backs. Christian McCaffrey is sidelined with a PCL injury and Jordan Mason is nursing a high ankle sprain. The 49ers will also be without starting left tackle Trent Williams and left guard Aaron Banks remains questionable as he recovers from a concussion.

In a game where something has to give, the Chicago Bears (4-8) enter on their own six-game losing streak.

Chicago’s embarrassing clock management to close its Thanksgiving Day loss at Detroit resulted in head coach Matt Eberflus’ firing. However, during its six-game losing streak, the Bears have lost four one-score games.

Here’s how to watch the 49ers game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

What channel is 49ers vs Bears game on today? Time, TV schedule

TV Channel: Fox

Start time: 1:25 p.m. PT

The San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears will broadcast nationally on Fox in Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season. Play-by-play broadcaster Kenny Albert and color analyst Jonathan Vilma will call the game from the booth at Levi’s Stadium, with Megan Olivi reporting from the sidelines.

Where to watch 49ers vs Bears on livestream

Streaming options for the game include Fubo.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch 49ers vs Bears live on Fubo” link=”https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191261?irad=399332&irmp=1205322&subId1=SMG&subId2=NCAAF&subId3=2024″]

49ers vs Bears predictions, picks, odds

49ers 23, Bears 17: Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has had the Bears on the doorstep in four of their six straight losses. Any playoff hopes are officially over for San Francisco if they drop this one.

Despite a dicey injury report, Brock Purdy and the 49ers find a way to beat a Bears team facing its own turmoil.

ODDS: 49ers -3.5

O/U: 44

All NFL odds via BetMGM.

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49ers schedule 2024

  • Sept. 9: vs. New York Jets (W, 32-19)
  • Sept. 15: at Minnesota (L, 23-17)
  • Sept. 22: at Los Angeles Rams (L, 27-24)
  • Sept. 29: at New England (W, 30-13)
  • Oct. 6: vs. Arizona (L, 24-23)
  • Oct. 10: at Seattle (W, 36-24)
  • Oct. 20: vs. Kansas City (L, 28-18)
  • Oct. 27: vs. Dallas (W, 30-24)
  • Nov. 3: BYE WEEK
  • Nov. 10: at Tampa Bay (W, 23-20)
  • Nov. 17: vs. Seattle (L, 20-17)
  • Nov. 24: at Green Bay (L, 38-10)
  • Dec. 1: at Buffalo (L, 35-10)
  • Dec. 8: vs. Chicago
  • Dec. 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
  • Dec. 22: at Miami
  • Dec. 30: vs. Detroit
  • Jan. 5: at Arizona
  • Record: 5-7

Bears schedule 2024

  • Sept. 8: vs. Tennessee (W, 24-17)
  • Sept. 15: at Houston (L, 19-13)
  • Sept. 22: at Indianapolis (L, 21-16)
  • Sept. 29: vs. Los Angeles Rams (W, 24-18)
  • Oct. 6: vs. Carolina (W, 36-10)
  • Oct. 13: vs. Jacksonville (W, 35-16)
  • Oct. 20: BYE WEEK
  • Oct. 27: at Washington (L, 18-15)
  • Nov. 3: at Arizona (L, 29-9)
  • Nov. 10: vs. New England (L, 19-3)
  • Nov. 17: vs. Green Bay (L, 20-19)
  • Nov. 24: vs. Minnesota (L, 30-27)
  • Nov. 28: at Detroit (L, 23-20)
  • Dec. 8: at San Francisco
  • Dec. 16: at Minnesota
  • Dec. 22: vs. Detroit
  • Dec. 26: vs. Seattle
  • Jan. 5: at Green Bay

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49ers biggest cause for concern vs. Packers is familiar flaw in 2024

The Packers biggest strength this year is one of the 49ers biggest weaknesses.

Finding one clear issue with the San Francisco 49ers this season is nigh impossible. They’ve been plagued by a slew of problems throughout their 5-5 start.

All of those shortcomings have culminated one overarching flaw: the 49ers can’t close games.

They’ve had fourth quarter leads in three of their five defeats, and four of their five losses have been by one score. Their inability to finish games could rear its head again Sunday in a crucial matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday in a press conference was asked about Brock Purdy’s up-and-down season, and used it as an opportunity to identify why the team’s inability to close teams out could be a problem in Green Bay.

“And to me that’s come all the way down to how we finish games,” Shanahan said. “And we’ve had four games here that have come down to the last two possessions and we’ve only won one of those. And that’s the difference between eight-and-two and five-and-five with the one we won being Tampa. In contrast, you look at a team like Green Bay, they’ve had seven games come down to the last possession and they’ve won six of them, with the only one they lost being the opening game versus Philly. And that’s why they have such a good record.”

The only Packers games to not be decided by one score this year were a 30-14 blowout win over the Tennessee Titans, a 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, and a 24-14 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Their close wins involved blocking a Chicago Bears field goal last week and getting a walk-off field goals vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans the two weeks prior. Their 24-19 win against the Los Angeles Rams saw their defense hold late after LA got down inside the Packers 40.

Their penchant for winning close games has helped them hold the No. 6 seed in the NFC, two games ahead of San Francisco.

If the 49ers can figure out a way to get and hold a late lead against Green Bay on Sunday it would go a long way toward helping them get back on the path to a playoff berth. The problem is they’ve yet to show that ability this season, and failing to do so again Sunday could put them well outside the playoff picture with only six games to go.

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49ers found new way to lose in Week 11 vs. Seahawks

Good news: Special teams didn’t lose the 49ers a game on Sunday. Bad news: They have a new thing that did lose them the game.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the San Francisco 49ers 2024 season is that all five of their losses seem to come down to something different.

There’s not one discernible thing they have to fix, but rather a smattering of issues that vary each week in how much damage they inflict on the club’s chances to get a victory.

In a damaging Week 11 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, it appeared the offense was a major problem. That unit turned the ball over once and averaged only 4.9 yards per play in their least efficient outing of the year. They were also unable to hold onto the football for 3:56 at the end of the game, giving Seattle a chance to win.

Despite the offensive struggles, head coach Kyle Shanahan wasn’t necessarily displeased with the play from that unit in their latest loss. Instead, he pointed to penalties as the reason for their season-low output.

“Yeah, that was a huge thing. I thought that was one of the biggest problems for the offense on the day,” Shanahan said of the penalties. “And I actually thought we played a better game offensively than we did on that Thursday night game. We didn’t get, you know, on that Thursday night game we got the busted coverage on [WR] Deebo’s [Samuel] 70-yarder and we got those two explosive runs which really helped. But we played better football this game. We just didn’t at all with the penalties and you know, we had one 14-play drive where, I don’t know how many 14-play drives that I’ve been a part of that don’t end with points or a missed field goal or turnover. To go 14 plays and then punt it, we had eight plays inside the 50 after that turnover for the field goal having to overcome it a couple times and get them again. So, that was our biggest problem on the day I felt offensively.”

The 49ers had one drive just before the first half where they had a second-and-3 turn into a second-and-8 because of a false start. Two plays later on a third-and-1 they had a five-yard carry called back because of a hold, putting San Francisco into a third-and-10.

They overcame those penalties to get a first-and-10 at Seattle’s 34 after the two-minute warning. Another false start pushed them to a first-and-15, and then quarterback Brock Purdy took a sack that knocked them out of field goal range. Two incompletions later they punted. Instead of going ahead 10-6 or 14-6 before halftime, the 49ers led 7-6.

In the second half the 49ers defense came up with an interception that set the offense up at Seattle’s 27. They eventually got to first-and-10 at the Seahawks 16. An eight-yard scramble by Brock Purdy on that down was called back for a hold, giving the 49ers a first-and-20 at Seattle’s 26. Running back Christian McCaffrey immediately got the 49ers back inside the 15 with a 14-yard run, but that was negated by an illegal formation flag.

San Francisco went from first-and-10 at the Seattle 16 to first-and-25 at the Seattle 31. They settled for a field goal on that series and instead of leading 14-6, led 10-6 and allowed the next Seattle touchdown to give them a lead.

The good news is it wasn’t special teams that killed the 49ers this time. The bad news is we have a new thing to add to the list of reasons a team that was supposed to contend for a Super Bowl is fighting for its playoff life after 10 games.

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49ers schedule: Week 11 game vs. Seahawks a virtual must-win

The 49ers need to beat the Seahawks for a bunch of reasons.

There’s a clear path to the postseason for the San Francisco 49ers that started in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and continues in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks.

The game at Tampa Bay was a virtual must-win for the previously 4-4 49ers. A loss to fall to 4-5 could have been catastrophic. Alas, they pulled out a 23-20 victory on the road. While it was a significant win, it was only Step 1 for the 49ers. Perhaps more important is Sunday’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

It doesn’t appear as though the 49ers’ road back to the playoffs will ever be easy this season. They could simply win the rest of their games and punch their ticket that way, but with games coming up in Green Bay, in Buffalo, at home against the Lions, Dolphins and Rams, and in Arizona, the likelihood they win out is slim. That puts a handful of other scenarios on the table.

There are too many different ways this can all play out to start listing them here, but there’s a real chance tiebreakers come into play for either the division or a wild card spot. The bottom line for Sunday’s game is that the 49ers can’t drop another game in the division after losing to the Cardinals and Rams earlier in the year.

NFL tiebreakers for the division start with head-to-head record. The 49ers would sweep the season series with the Seahawks with a win Sunday and climb further ahead of them in the standings. If the teams split their head-to-head matchups, which the 49ers would if they beat the Rams and Cardinals, then the next tiebreaker is record within the division.

San Francisco needs a trio of wins in the division down the stretch, and their second time through the NFC West begins Sunday.

There’s a wild card element to factor in as well.

The first tiebreaker for wild card teams is head-to-head matchup. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it next week when the 49ers visit the No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers. The next tiebreaker is conference record, and San Francisco’s three NFC losses early in the year put them behind the curve in that category.

Racking up NFC wins is going to be imperative to not only have a playoff-caliber record, but also for getting a potential tiebreaker edge.

San Francisco could still make the postseason if they lose Sunday. A win makes the path much easier though, and finding out what it looks like with a loss to Seattle is probably a version of the playoff picture they’ll want to avoid.

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Next 4 weeks of schedule will define 49ers 2024 season

The direction of the 49ers’ season will be determined by this four-week turning point.

The San Francisco 49ers’ 2024 season sits at a crossroads as they come out of their Bye week.

They hold a 4-4 record and sit on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff picture. They’re also a half game back of the Arizona Cardinals for the NFC West lead, and sitting in third place in the division because the Los Angeles Rams hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over them.

By most measures that ultimately matter, the 49ers have been a pretty middle-of-the-road club through eight games. That’s reflected in the USA TODAY NFL power rankings where they sit at No. 16 after their Bye week.

The next four weeks will define their entire year and give them an opportunity to tip toward the side that features Super Bowl contention.

San Francisco will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road in Week 10, then come home to host the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11. After that they’ll have back-to-back road contests at Green Bay and Buffalo.

Going 3-1 or 4-0 in this stretch will entrench the 49ers as a Super Bowl contender. That’d put them at either 7-5 or 8-4 with four quality wins in a row. It would also signal that the typical second-half push by San Francisco is in play.

If they split those four games or worse, they’re going to have a hard time making the postseason at all.

It’s an 18-week season, but if the 49ers are going to show they’re better than a middle-of-the-road team, it has to start with their first four games out of the Bye.

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49ers schedule: Week 10 opponent won’t be a pushover

Get to know the basics about the 49ers’ Week 10 opponent:

The San Francisco 49ers open their final nine games of the regular season with a road trip to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For the 49ers, this Week 10 bout will determine the tenor of the rest of their season. A win keeps them in a tie for the top of the division. A loss puts them on the outside looking in at the NFC West, and at a wild card spot where the No. 7 seed belongs to the 6-3 Green Bay Packers.

Week 10 won’t just be a big one for the 49ers. Their opponent will also be entering with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s going on with the Buccaneers in 2024:

What did the Buccaneers do last game?

Tampa Bay visited the Kansas City Chiefs and fell 30-24 in overtime. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was impressive against one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. He threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns, but he was outdueled by Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’s 291 yards and three touchdowns.

What’s the Buccaneers’ record?

The Bucs are now 4-5 after their loss to the Chiefs. They’re comfortably No. 2 in the NFC South ahead of the 2-7 Carolina Panthers and 2-7 New Orleans Saints. They’re now 2.0 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Falcons. In the NFC playoff race, the Bucs are 0.5 games behind the 49ers at No. 11 overall.

What’s the Buccaneers injury situation?

One of Tampa Bay’s issues during their three-game losing skid is their injuries at wide receiver. Chris Godwin is out for the year with an ankle injury, and Mike Evans is out for several weeks with a hamstring injury. Defensive lineman Greg Gaines was also out of Monday’s game with a calf injury.

Where do the Buccaneers rank in offense?

Even with the injuries the Bucs’ offense has been outstanding under the guidance of offensive coordinator Liam Coen. They rank No. 5 in total yards, No. 5 in yards per play and No. 3 in points per game. They posted 24 points vs. Kansas City — the second-highest output against them all season.

Where do the Buccaneers rank in defense?

It’s less pretty defensively for head coach Todd Bowles’s club. They’re No. 30 in the NFL in yards allowed per game and No. 30 in yards allowed per play. Their run defense is allowing 5.19 yards per play, which is tied with the New York Giants for the worst mark in the league. That makes it no surprise that the Buccaneers rank 28th in points allowed.

What happened last time the 49ers and Buccaneers played?

The 49ers are 20-6 all-time in the regular season vs. Tampa Bay, including wins in each of their last three matchups. Last time they played was in 2023 with the 49ers handling business at Levi’s Stadium and securing a 27-14 win. San Francisco also hosted the Buccaneers in 2022 and blew them out 35-7 in Brock Purdy’s first start at quarterback.

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49ers scores: How Kyle Shanahan teams do immediately after Bye week

Here’s how the 49ers do under Kyle Shanahan the week after their Bye:

The San Francisco 49ers will need to hit the ground running coming out of their Bye week.

A Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys put the 49ers in a spot to be competitive in the NFC West and playoff races the rest of the way, but they’ll need to get off on the right foot out of the gate when the visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Recently the first game out of the Bye week has been a bright spot on the 49ers’ schedule.

Under head coach Kyle Shanahan they’re 4-3 after the week off, but they’re 4-1 in their last five. The 2017 and 2018 seasons were outliers where they lost 24-13 at home to the Seattle Seahawks and 27-9 on the road vs. the Buccaneers.

Since then they’ve been pretty good out of the Bye.

In 2019 they blew out the Cleveland Browns 31-3 at Levi’s Stadium. The following year was a disaster, but they still squeaked out a 23-20 road win over the Los Angeles Rams after the Bye.

Quarterback injuries and inclement weather helped catalyze an ugly 30-18 loss at home against the Indianapolis Colts after the 2021 Bye week.

In 2022 they snuck past the Los Angeles Chargers 22-16 early in Christian McCaffrey’s tenure. Then last year they blew out the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-3 in Northeast Florida.

While the 49ers haven’t necessarily been dominant immediately after the Bye week, a 4-1 record in their last five provides optimism they’ll be able to find a win over a shorthanded Buccaneers club coming off a tough, overtime Monday Night Football game on the road vs. the Kansas City Chiefs.

Given Shanahan’s overall record after Bye weeks, getting started with a win would put the 49ers on a very good track to stay prominently in the NFC playoff picture.

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49ers schedule: Are the San Francisco 49ers playing today?

Are the San Francisco 49ers playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come. 

Will the San Francisco 49ers be on the field today in Week 9 of the NFL schedule?

Following a 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers are on a bye week and will return to the field on November 10 for a showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers will be coming off a short week after visiting the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 8, and they’re banged up with their two top wide receivers – Chris Godwin and Mike Evans – both dealing with injuries. Godwin is out for the year, and Evans isn’t expected back for several weeks.

Tampa Bay still brings a good defense into the matchup though, and their run game has enough juice to create some issues for the 49ers’ defense. Still, it’s a game that looks imminently winnable considering the 49ers’ rest advantage, the potential return of running back Christian McCaffrey, and the Buccaneers injury issues.

49ers 2024 schedule

  • Week 1: vs. New York Jets (W, 32-19)
  • Week 2: vs. Minnesota (L, 23-17)
  • Week 3: at Los Angeles Rams (L, 27-24)
  • Week 4: vs. New England (W, 30-13)
  • Week 5: vs. Arizona (L, 24-23)
  • Week 6: at Seattle (W, 36-24)
  • Week 7 vs. Kansas City (L, 28-18)
  • Week 8 vs. Dallas (W, 30-24)
  • Week 9: Bye
  • Week 10: at Tampa Bay (4-4)
  • Week 11: vs. Seattle (4-4)
  • Week 12: at Green Bay (6-2)
  • Week 13: at Buffalo (6-2)
  • Week 14: vs. Chicago (4-3)
  • Week 15: vs. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
  • Week 16: at Miami (2-5)
  • Week 17: vs. Detroit (6-1)
  • Week 18: at Arizona (4-4)
  • Record: 4-4

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