5 NFL teams who might be regression candidates for 2020 season

By John Buhler | Apr 7, 2020

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 19: Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid displays the Lamar Hunt to the fans in victorious fashion after the AFC Championship game between the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday January 19, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

West. San Francisco 49ers. 4. player. 42. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. NFC

Like the team they met in the Super Bowl a year ago, the San Francisco 49ers could experience some regression this fall. As with the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers have to be the favorite to get back to the Super Bowl in their respective conference. However, we haven’t seen a Super Bowl rematch since the Dallas Cowboys took on the Buffalo Bills in the early 1990s. It rarely happens.

To lose the Super Bowl the way the 49ers did is crushing. It’s the second time in four years head coach Kyle Shanahan blew a massive lead with the Lombardi Trophy within reach. San Francisco has the talent to repeat in the NFC West, and possibly get home-field advantage again in the NFC. However, they will be challenged more by the teams in the NFC than they were last year.

One could argue the NFC West is the deepest division in football. Whoever is worse between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams might be good enough to win another division across the league. Though the NFC East is incredibly weak, the NFC North and the NFC South have the teams capable of sending three teams to the NFC playoffs if everything breaks their way.

Overall, somebody is going to have a Super Bowl hangover. It happens every year to one of the two participants. If forced to pick one between the Chiefs and the 49ers, you have to admit most people would pick the 49ers not to get back to the Super Bowl.

Though they should be a playoff team, they may not win their division or even win a playoff game next year. The NFC is loaded.

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