5 most disappointing NFL teams so far in 2018

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 07: Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a pass during the football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 7, 2018, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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3. San Francisco 49ers

A great finish to the 2017 season, with a 5-0 record in Jimmy Garoppolo’s starts, pushed the 49ers’ hype train into overdrive during the offseason. That also set them up to fall short of expectations, and Garappolo’s torn ACL in Week 3 has helped them to a dismal 1-4 record so far.

The NFL’s broadcast partners bought into the 49ers too, as five of their next seven games are standalone prime time contests. C.J. Beathard starting under center for San Francisco was not what anyone envisioned, and barring a trade that’s exactly what will come when the 49ers are playing in the only game that’s on the majority of the next several weeks. This reeks of the Cleveland Browns in 2008, when they were coming off 10-6 in 2007, were put on a few Sunday and Monday night games and fell to 4-12 as Derek Anderson turned back into a pumpkin.

The 49ers falling short of preseason expectations is not all their fault, due to Garoppolo’s season-ending injury. But their issues will be on full display for a national audience for awhile now, rather than hidden via regional action in the late afternoon window for most of the country.

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