You've probably seen more than enough predictions leading up to the 2020 season. Some are predicting the Seattle Seahawks to win the NFC West over the San Francisco 49ers. Others are doubting whether or not the Niners will even make the playoffs this season.
San Francisco has its share of doubters. It's not necessarily because anyone believes the 49ers aren't a good team. They are, after all, coming off a Super Bowl appearance and didn't experience a lot of the same turnover that many past Super Bowl teams have.
It's just that the road back to the big game is tough enough for the team that emerges as the champion the year before. It's even more difficult for the Super Bowl runner-up.
Tight end George Kittle knows Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals will give the 49ers their best shot on Sunday. The week after that, the New York Jets will do the same. Then the New York Giants, and so on. The 49ers are the defending NFC champions, and, therefore, will get everyone's best shot.
Still, the doubt is substantial when it comes to San Francisco's chances of returning to the Super Bowl.
Kittle spoke with reporters on Thursday and was asked what he thinks about the 49ers, once again, being a team that is flying under the radar.
"It is what it is," Kittle responded. "I mean, you can either have a target on your back, or you're chasing after other people. I don't know who we're really under the radar to other than like people that vote for us on ESPN. I don't know if they know everything.
"I know that, around the league, people know what we can do, especially on offense. And I don't know how you can take our defense not seriously because of our D-line and just what we do.
"I don't think anyone in the league is underestimating us, and so we have to play at a high level every single week. We're not going to get freebies. We know that, and if we don't play at a high level, then we're not going to win games."
Another factor might be that the 49ers play amongst one of the most competitive — if not the most competitive — divisions in football. The Seahawks are always clawing their way into the postseason. The Los Angeles Rams had an off-year last season but would have been playing in January under the new playoff system. The Cardinals should be much-improved and were already giving the 49ers problems in 2019.
"We're going to get everybody's best shot, whether they're the Baltimore Ravens, the Saints, the Chiefs, or if it's a lower team," Kittle continued. "It doesn't really matter. We're going to get everyone's best shot, no matter what it is, and if we don't show up, we're not going to win. So, our goal is to show up every single Sunday and whoop up on some people."
