The Bee’s Matt Barrows’ predictions for the 49ers’ season:
Best-case scenario
Kyle Shanahan’s first season has a similar vibe to Jim Harbaugh’s inaugural campaign, which came in 2011. There’s a sense of rebirth and energy as well as a recognition that the 49ers must move quickly if they want to catch up to the rest of the league. Harbaugh’s squad caught opponents off guard early in 2011 and the current squad could do the same, especially given the national perception that the 49ers remain one of the league’s weaklings.
The 2017 49ers aren’t as talented, experienced or deep as their 2011 counterparts, and hosting the NFC championship game like Harbaugh did in Year One seems unrealistic.