Chris Simms has at least some faith in the San Francisco 49ers. The NBC Sports analyst predicts his buddy Kyle Shanahan's squad not only to win the NFC West but earn the top seed in the NFC playoffs. In fact, he has three teams from the division — the Niners, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams — all making it into the postseason.
As for the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers' Week 1 opponent, Simms noted on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, "I think they're going to be a pain in the a--."
Simms continues: "I'm expecting the 49ers. Of course, I am."
Co-host Ahmed Fareed asks the analyst to clarify if that means he anticipates San Francisco to win the NFC West.
"Yes," Simms responded. "And to be the No. 1 seed. There we have it. Kansas City and San Francisco are my No. 1 seeds, just so you know."
That may not seem far-fetched to most, as both were in the Super Bowl only seven months ago. Remember, however, that several media outlets favor the New Orleans Saints in the NFC, and some even have the Seahawks winning the NFC West.
Fareed asks Simms why he doesn't anticipate the 49ers regressing following February's loss. The team, after all, had been deemed bad for many years before last season. Simms notes that San Francisco would have probably been one of the better teams in 2018 had quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo not gotten hurt early in the season.
"How many games did they lose by the skin of their teeth that year?" Simms asked. "And there was people that year going, 'Oh, the 49ers are going to go to the playoffs,' if you remember. Everybody was all like, 'Jimmy Garoppolo, the way he ended the year before, here come the 49ers.'
"I think the big thing with the 49ers is you don't lose any players, and you get Trent Williams, and you get two first-round picks in the same offseason. And really, your team doesn't lose anything."
Simms adds that Shanahan's rushing attack, which ranked No. 2 in the NFL last season, isn't based on physical dominance.
"It's based on creativity and angles, and creating issues for the defense that way," Simms said. "... Plus, I'm going to expect Jimmy Garoppolo to take the next step in his development here, who's still very young in his playing days. So yeah, I'm going with the Niners."
As for the playoffs, Simms has the 49ers hosting and then losing to the Seahawks in the Divisional Round.
"I would not want to have to play Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks for a third time in a year in a playoff game, I know that," Simms adds.
The conversation surrounding the NFC West begins at about the 55:20 mark.
