The San Francisco 49ers are the last unbeaten team in the NFL. No one would have predicted that to be the case before Week 1, yet here we are with Kyle Shanahan's squad sitting at 8-0.
Being the last undefeated team doesn't always translate to success, though, and Andrew Siciliano recently shared some examples of that in recent years during his "Thinking Out Loud" segment on NFL Network.
Siciliano does state that he believes the 49ers to be the best team in the NFL, and his rundown of past teams' inability to win a championship doesn't necessarily mean San Francisco would follow in the same path. It's just a fascinating look at the recent history of the last undefeated teams.
"I've seen them twice in person this season," Siciliano said. "They are legit. They've got the run game, they've got the defense, and I think (quarterback Jimmy) Garoppolo shut some people up in Arizona last week.
"But what if I told you history is working against them."
Siciliano goes on to point out the following.
The Los Angeles Rams were the last remaining undefeated team in 2018 and lost in the Super Bowl.
In 2017, it was the Kansas City Chiefs who were the last undefeated team but lost their first playoff game.
The Minnesota Vikings were the last remaining undefeated team in 2016 and missed the playoffs altogether.
In 2015, it was the Carolina Panthers. The Denver Broncos beat them in the Super Bowl.
In 2014, three teams were the last remaining undefeated squads — the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and Philadelphia Eagles. None of them made it past the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
But what about 49ers history? You have to go back to 1990 when San Francisco was the last remaining undefeated team. The New York Giants beat that team in the NFC Championship Game.
"I really do think San Francisco is the best team in football," Siciliano adds. "I just don't think that (in) Week 9, it really means that much. Granted, it is better than the alternative."
49ers are the last remaining undefeated team in the @NFL. Historically, that does mean much.#ThinkingOutLoud #NFLNow @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/nfPld8NBKZ
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) November 4, 2019
