NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms—a close pal of San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan—made his playoff prediction for the 2022 NFL season. Why should that matter to you? Because Simms not only has the Niners winning the NFC West and the second seed in the NFC playoffs, but he has the team returning to the Super Bowl.
Simms projects the NFC playoff seeding to look like this:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- San Francisco 49ers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Green Bay Packers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Dallas Cowboys
- New Orleans Saints
That would pit the 49ers against the Saints on Wild Card Weekend. Simms has San Francisco coming out on top and then beating the Buccaneers in the Divisional Round. His NFC Championship Game predicts the Eagles hosting the 49ers, with San Francisco moving on to the Super Bowl.
That's where the good news—as far as these predictions—end. Simms has the Niners losing to the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs, the same scenario as the end of the 2019 season.
The 49ers own one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, and their defense should be one of the best, so it's easy to see why many are predicting the team will do well this season, even with inexperienced, second-year quarterback Trey Lance at the helm of the offense.
What do you think of Simms' prediction? How much do you think he gets right, and how much does he get wrong? Leave a comment.
'@CSimmsQB's complete 2022 #NFL playoff predictions bracket! 👀
Thoughts?! pic.twitter.com/rYv0YWKQUi
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 5, 2022
H/t to Brian Renick for the find.