One silver lining for every team that missed the playoffs

San Francisco 49ers (5-11)

Your defense isn’t riddled with holes like last year.

It’s likely that the NFL’s five least probable wins are all owned by the San Francisco 49ers.

There was a Week 1 trouncing of the eventual NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings that looks baffling in retrospect, wins over the timely collapsing Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons, and two overtime victories led by Blaine Gabbert.

The team turned to Blaine Freakin’ Gabbert after Colin Kaepernick injured his knee, and against all conventional wisdom Gabbert outperformed him. Certainly the bar was not set high by Kaepernick, of whom the most charitable explanation for his play was that he played injured. But still, this was Blaine Gabbert, who in his three years in Jacksonville went 5-22, threw more interceptions (24) than touchdowns (22), and barely cracked 4,000 yards (4,357). Note: Blake Bortles threw for 4,428 in 2015 alone for the Jags.

The major concern for the 49ers entering 2015 was the amount of holes on the defense. The Niners endured the retirements of Patrick Willis, Justin Smith and Chris Borland, as well as the departures of Aldon Smith and Chris Culliver. Outside of NaVorro Bowman, the core of the defense had vanished.

Fortunately, the Niners were able to discover plenty of young talent to step up. Aaron Lynch had the biggest new impact on the defense at OLB, tallying 6.5 sacks (tied with Ahmad Brooks for the team lead). Rookies on all three levels – Arik Armsead at DL, Eli Harold at LB and Jaquiski Tartt at S – proved their places as solid starting and rotational pieces. And second year CB Kenneth Acker unexpectedly emerged as one of the team’s best players in coverage after missing last year with a foot injury.

Next: Miami Dolphins