Even though the San Francisco 49ers technically remain alive in the NFC West race, the 2024 season is just about finished for the defending NFC champs. On a bitter, cold night in Buffalo, NY, the Bills absolutely dominated the shattered 49ers. The Bills are good, very good, the 49ers on the other hand, are not even close. It really has been a sad turn of events for a team that has all the talent in the world but has been unable to stay healthy all year long. After waiting weeks to see their star running back return from an Achilles injury, the 49ers had to watch that same star limp off the field last night. Christian McCaffrey’s season might be finished, just a few weeks after his return to the lineup.
Let’s face it, 2024 is over for San Francisco. The injuries are piling up and that spark is not there this season. Guys like George Kittle and Brock Purdy will keep fighting of course, but the harsh reality is, the 49ers are done.
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A Lost Season
2024 was supposed to be a season of redemption for San Francisco. After falling just short of a Super Bowl title just a year ago, expectations were extremely high going into 2024. As the 2024 season began, however, it was quite clear that a return trip to the Super Bowl wasn’t to be. Christian McCaffrey missed the first couple of months of the season and now could be lost for the year, Brandon Aiyuk is out for the season, Dre Greenlaw has not played a snap, Talanoa Hufanga is back on the injury list, Nick Bosa is down for the count, so to say, and Trent Williams is now out indefinitely.
Keep in mind, these are just some of the injuries the 49ers have dealt with this season. It really is incredible if you think about it. What else could go wrong for San Francisco? Amazingly, they find themselves only a couple of games back in the NFC West, but it feels more like seven games back based on their performance.
There has been a lot finger-pointing as to who’s to blame for this disastrous season, but the injury bug has been the main culprit. It makes you wonder, after all that has gone wrong, what else is left in the tank for this depleted roster?
No Match For Buffalo
On a night when the Bills clinched the AFC East title, Josh Allen was magnificent. Allen finished 13/17 for 148 yards and two touchdowns. He also made a dazzling play on an improvised hook-and-later, diving into the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. It was just that kind of night for the 49ers. Playing in a snowstorm against a very tough opponent is one thing, not having your star players is another. It’s obvious that the 49ers are not playing with a healthy squad, but that fight they once had remains absent.
It’s not in the 49ers’ character to throw in the towel, that’s just not their style. They will continue to fight every play, something they have always prided themselves on. At what point do they realize, however, it’s time to hit the reset button and prepare for 2025. I know this is not something that any team wants to hear, but it must. The 49ers are still one of the best in the NFL, but they need a healthy roster to get back to their winning ways.
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