Despite a sluggish 3-5 start, the San Francisco 49ers were a win away to make it to the Super Bowl last season. The 49ers got that far with average quarterback play from Jimmy Garoppolo but he was mostly efficient in running the offense exactly the way head coach Kyle Shanahan wanted. That offense will change with Trey Lance set to be starting with Garoppolo as a backup. After making two fill-in starts as a rookie last year, Lance is hardly a sure thing but his potential is enticing. The 3rd overall pick in 2021 will have plenty of weapons at his disposal with All-Pro receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, who combined for 2,315 yards receiving and 20 total touchdowns. Former first-round pick WR Brandon Aiyuk should compliment this formidable aerial attack. The Arizona State product caught 56 passes for 826 yards and 5 scores last season.
Samuel was also a threat rushing the ball especially in his last 8 games by compiling 343 yards during that stretch. But the surprise in the backfield was Elijah Mitchell, who broke the franchise rookie rushing record with 963 yards while scoring 5 touchdowns. Cautious that his stats may have been a fluke and isn’t the prototype running back, the 49ers spent a third-round pick on Tyrion Davis-Price as insurance. Of course, fullback Kyle Juszcyk will be around to block for both and serve as a receiver out of the backfield. A major reason why Samuel and Mitchell were so productive as runners was the dominant play of the offensive line. However, while the unit will return the terrific duo of Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey, the interior offensive line could spell trouble in the wake of losing Pro Bowlers Laken Tomlinson (free agency) and Alex Mack (retirement).
The defense went on a tear in the team’s last 11 games last season allowing a mere 285 yards per game during that stretch. The unit wavered when it mattered most in the fourth quarter of the NFC title game but it held the Rams to just 7 points through the first three quarters. Despite ongoing issues in their secondary, the 49ers ranked third in total defense and allowed the league’s sixth-fewest passing yards. With CB Jason Verrett now healthy, the 49ers added a key piece with the signing of Charvarius Ward, who was tremendous in Kansas City. LB Fred Warner, arguably the best linebacker in the NFL, will be joined by Dre Greenlaw who missed most of the 2021. The 49ers return most of the front-seven pieces which includes Pro Bowl pass rusher Nick Bosa, who ranked fourth in the NFL in sacks with 15.5 QB put downs.
While the 49ers do play the Rams and Cardinals twice this season, their schedule features many winnable games against the Bears, Panthers, Falcons, and Commanders, but they do have the Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, Buccaneers and the Raiders also on their slate.
San Francisco 49ers Offseason Moves:
Notable Additions: WR Ray-Ray McCloud, TE Tyler Kroft, DE Kerry Hyder, DT Robert Nkemdiche, CB Charvarius Ward, S George Odum
Notable Departures: RB Raheem Mostert, WR Trent Sherfield, C Alex Mack, CB K’Waun Williams, CB Dontae Johnson
1st and 2nd Draft Picks: DE Drake Jackson (61)
2022-23 San Francisco 49ers NFL Futures Odds
- Odds to win the 2023 Super Bowl LVII: 16/1
- Odds to win the 2022-23 NFC Conference: 15/2
- Odds to win the 2022-23 NFC South +150
- 2022-23 Regular Season Win Total: Over 10 (-115)
- Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes -200 | No +160
- Official website: 49ers.com
- Twitter Account : @49ers
The Bottom Line:
While it’s predictable that Lance might go through some growing pains as a starter, the 49ers are well-equipped to absorb those with a strong cast on both sides of the ball. Plus, Garoppolo remains a viable option if Lance doesn’t pan out at the quarterback position. However, if Lance emerges as an above-average signal-caller, the skies is the limit for the 49ers this season. I like their chances to unseat the Rams atop the NFC West.
Last year’s record: 10-7
My Prediction: 13-4
2022-23 San Francisco 49ers Stage of Elimination
- To Miss the Playoffs +170
- To Lose in Wildcard Round +250
- To Lose in Divisional Round +350
- To Lose in Conference Championship Game +600
- To Lose in Super Bowl +1200
- To Win Super Bowl +1600
Odds According to Bovada as of September, 2022
2022-23 San Francisco 49ers Season Team Specials
Trey Lance, Elijah Mitchell and Deebo Samuel combined over 15.5 Reg Season Rushing TDs -110
Bradon Aiyuk and George Kittle Combined over 1600.5 Reg Season Receiving Yards EVEN
SF 49ers Over 425.5 Reg Season Points Scored EVEN
Deebo Samuel Over 10.5 Rush & Rec TDs Scored +115
Deebo Samuel to have 150 Receiving yards in at least one game during the Reg Season +120
SF 49ers to make the playoffs and Deebo Samuel Over 1300.5 Yards From Scrimmage in the Reg Season +150
Trey Lance over 3500.5 Reg Season Passing Yards and Over 550.5 Reg Season Rushing Yards +280
Elijah Mitchell over 7.5 Reg Season Rushing TDs and George Kittle Over 5.5 Reg Season Receiving TDs +300
George Kittle to have the most Tight End Receiving Yards in NFC Conference +300
SF 49ers to be NFC No. 1 Seed +1100
Aengus NFL Season Special Prediction on 49ers:
- Lance will go over 4,000 yards passing
- Samuel will go over 1,200 yards receiving
- Mitchell will not go over 1,000 yards rushing
- Kittle will not go over 1,000 yards receiving
- San Francisco will win NFC West division
- San Francisco will not reach NFC conference Championship
Season Props According to Bovada as of September, 2022
Bet on the San Francisco 49ers 2022-23 Season Props at Bovada Sportsbook.
San Francisco 49ers 2022-23 Schedule
| PRESEASON | |||||
| W. | Date | Time | Opponent | Game site | TV |
| 1 | 12-Aug | Green Bay Packers | Levi’s Stadium | ||
| 2 | 20-Aug | at Minnesota Vikings | U.S. Bank Stadium | ||
| 3 | 25-Aug | at Houston Texans | NRG Stadium | ||
| REGULAR SEASON | |||||
| W. | Date | Time | Opponent | Game site | TV |
| 1 | 11-Sep | 10:00 a.m. | at Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Fox |
| 2 | 18-Sep | 1:05 p.m. | Seattle Seahawks | Levi’s Stadium | Fox |
| 3 | 25-Sep | 5:20 p.m. | at Denver Broncos | Empower Field at Mile High | NBC |
| 4 | 3-Oct | 5:15 p.m. | Los Angeles Rams | Levi’s Stadium | ESPN |
| 5 | 9-Oct | 1:05 p.m. | at Carolina Panthers | Bank of America Stadium | CBS |
| 6 | 16-Oct | 10:00 a.m. | at Atlanta Falcons | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Fox |
| 7 | 23-Oct | 1:25 p.m. | Kansas City Chiefs | Levi’s Stadium | Fox |
| 8 | 30-Oct | 1:25 p.m. | at Los Angeles Rams | SoFi Stadium | Fox |
| 9 | Bye | ||||
| 10 | 13-Nov | 5:20 p.m. | Los Angeles Chargers | Levi’s Stadium | NBC |
| 11 | 21-Nov | 5:15 p.m. | at Arizona Cardinals | Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) | ESPN |
| 12 | 27-Nov | 1:25 p.m. | New Orleans Saints | Levi’s Stadium | Fox |
| 13 | 4-Dec | 1:05 p.m. | Miami Dolphins | Levi’s Stadium | Fox |
| 14 | 11-Dec | 1:25 p.m. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Levi’s Stadium | Fox |
| 15 | 15-Dec | 5:15 p.m. | at Seattle Seahawks | Lumen Field | Prime Video |
| 16 | 24-Dec | 1:05 p.m. | Washington Commanders | Levi’s Stadium | CBS |
| 17 | 1-Jan | 1:05 p.m. | at Las Vegas Raiders | Allegiant Stadium | Fox |
| 18 | Jan 7/8 | TBD | Arizona Cardinals | Levi’s Stadium | TBD |
All Time EST
Bet on the San Francisco 49ers 2022-23 Season at Bovada Sportsbook.
