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NFL: 5 Teams Dangerously Close to the Panic Button

By Bryce Olin

Oct 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) leaves the field after losing to the Miami Dolphins 27-14 at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) leaves the field after losing to the Miami Dolphins 27-14 at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) reacts on the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) reacts on the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

3. San Francisco 49ers (4-3)

It’s fairly easy to see what’s wrong with the 49ers. Other than their unexplainable loss to the Bears, the 49ers losses have been because they’re banged up and playing without some of their best players. Navarro Bowman and Aldon Smith haven’t played this season. Vernon Davis missed two games. Patrick Willis and Ray McDonald missed the game against Denver. There’s just been so much going on and the lineup has virtually been a rotating door at some positions.

Who knows if that’s going to get better? If it doesn’t, the 49ers might be in a world of hurt.

Statistically, the 49ers are pretty good across the board, minus the 42-17 drubbing by the Broncos. The 49ers were on a short week in Denver on back-to-back road games. They were going to lose this game regardless if they were healthy or not.

Still, the 49ers are 4-3 and sit two games behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West. With Arizona, Green Bay, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Dallas all with 5 or more wins through six and seven games into the season, San Francisco needs to get healthy to keep pace in the NFC.

With three games left against Arizona and Seattle, San Francisco basically needs to win their other six games to be a lock for the playoffs. I guess, you can look at that as a way to make up games, as well, but Arizona and Seattle aren’t going to let San Francisco off easy.

I’d start to panic a little if I was a 49ers’ fan. Unless they’re fully healthy, they can’t be that smash-mouth, ultra-physical football team we’re so used to.

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