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NFL 2016: Regular season grades for every team

By John Buhler

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) walks off the field after a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 44-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) walks off the field after a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 44-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly addresses the media after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levis Stadium Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly addresses the media after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levis Stadium Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco were better off Rip Van Winkle-ing this season than actually seeing it unfold. Hiring head coach Chip Kelly was a mistake and so was giving general manager Trent Baalke another season on the job. Owner Jed York doesn’t know what he’s doing and everybody knows it.

San Francisco had the worst quarterback controversy of all-time between Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert. The best candidate to start for the 49ers was actually Thad Lewis, but he got hurt in the preseason. San Francisco’s offense was lifeless because Kelly wasn’t willing to adapt his scheme. The defense wasn’t much better, frankly lacking the necessary personnel to be competitive.

The only wins that San Francisco mustered this season were against the equally incompetent Los Angeles Rams. Kelly won on Monday Night Football in Week 1 and then proceeded to go on a 13-game losing streak. Without question, the 49ers were the worst team in the NFC this season.

In all honesty, the only team in the NFL that feels as hopeless as the 49ers are the New York Jets in the AFC. New York actually beat San Francisco in overtime in Santa Clara in November. For the sake of irony and humor, let’s give the 49ers a 49 for their regular season grade. What a dumpster fire.

Grade: 49, F

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