Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
ESPN's host, Stephen A. Smith, remains skeptical of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo but isn't dismissing the possibility that the San Francisco 49ers might be the best team entering the playoffs. Of course, that is dependent on one thing — the team's health.
Smith, Max Kellerman, and Molly Qerim Rose took ESPN's First Take show on the road to Philadelphia and asked the question: Can the 49ers reach the Super Bowl if they do not have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs?
Kellerman doesn't believe so. He still thinks the 49ers are the best team in the NFC, but the path to the Super Bowl might be too much to overcome should they enter January as a Wildcard.
"In that scenario, they are likely to have to play at least two of the three scenarios," explains Kellerman. "Ready? Drew Brees at the Superdome, and either Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau or Russell Wilson at Seattle.
"If you have to play two of those three situations, and your defense has broken in the moment of truth three times in the season (noting the way the 49ers lost their three games), the quarterback hasn't even had a shot to get [the ball] back, I don't even see them going to Lambeau and beating Aaron Rodgers."
Smith defended the 49ers' playoff chances, noting that San Francisco has an elite defense, running game, and play-caller in head coach Kyle Shanahan. The ESPN personality also notes that the 49ers have been dealing with injuries in recent weeks.
"I'm just saying, take health into consideration," Smith said. "Soon, they're all going to be there, and to me, they can beat anybody. They could beat anybody."
Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers mailbag: What do the 49ers have left in the tank for the last four games? Will SF bring back Robert Saleh? Can Brock Purdy beat good teams?
By Marc Adams
Dec 11
It's always a big week when the San Francisco 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams. In 2021, the rivalry became even bigger when the 49ers had to win in the season's final week, in Los Angeles, to make it into the playoffs. On Thursday night, the 49ers must win again to keep their...
Kyle Shanahan reveals how the 49ers can beat the Bears on Sunday
By Marc Adams
Dec 7
The San Francisco 49ers have lost three games in a row. And they've been sloppy doing so, losing the last two by 28 and 25 points. The team that played in the Super Bowl earlier this year looks nothing like the team that is playing right now. Sure, they are missing several...
"We're playing for our playoff lives": Why John Lynch believes 49ers can deliver
By David Bonilla
13 hrs
Every game has become a must-win for the San Francisco 49ers, who host the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night at Levi's Stadium. Treating each matchup as a playoff contest, the 49ers understand that another loss could seal their fate—playoff elimination.
At 6-7, the team...
Are the 49ers back? After an excruciating three game stretch that's included blowouts to two playoff contenders and a blown lead to division-leading Seattle, the 49ers regrouped and laid some serious hurt on the hapless Bears, crushing Chicago 38-13.
It's cause for relief in...
