It has been a season to remember for the San Francisco 49ers. After an injury to Brock Purdy unceremoniously ended their run last year, the 49ers’ 2023 season put them right back in the driver’s seat for a Super Bowl title.
Let’s look back at how the 49ers earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The San Francisco 49ers’ 2023 Season
It was no secret the way the 2022 season ended left a sour taste in the mouths of 49ers players and coaches.
After losing starting quarterback Trey Lance and backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the team still managed to make it all the way to the NFC Championship Game with seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy under center. Unfortunately, the injury gods would not rest until the 49ers were quite literally out of quarterbacks.
Purdy was lost early in the game with a serious elbow injury that ultimately required surgery. Without Purdy, the 49ers’ chances of toppling the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles were already slim. After fourth-string quarterback Josh Johnson suffered a concussion, the rest of the game was academic.
After a crushing defeat where the team felt like they weren’t given a fair shake (which they weren’t), the 49ers vowed to return…and return they did.
The 2023 season started off as well as any team could want. San Francisco won each of their first five games, scoring 30+ points in all of them. Only their Week 2 victory against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams was less than a three-score game.
As great as their start was, it’s rare for a team to avoid adversity completely. The 49ers were no different.
After starting out 5-0, the 49ers dropped their next three, losing road games against the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings before suffering their first home loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Amidst their three-game losing streak, questions started to arise about whether the 49ers were still the class of the NFC. Purdy came under fire for his poor play, and the 49ers’ status as a juggernaut was cast in doubt.
What makes great teams great is their ability to fight through the tough periods and come out better because of it. The 49ers quickly returned to their winning ways, rattling off another six straight victories. Their next defeat wouldn’t come until Week 16, when they were completely run out of their own building in a 33-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
After a Week 17 win over the Washington Commanders, the 49ers clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Their Week 18 contest was a narrow defeat at the hands of the Rams, but neither team played their starters, as the game didn’t matter.
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The 49ers finished the regular season with a 12-5 record. It was their second consecutive season with at least 12 wins and their third straight campaign with double-digit victories. After two straight postseason wins, they are now one more win away from the ultimate prize, their sixth Super Bowl title.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!