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San Francisco 49ers will win the NFC West in 2020, and here’s 5 reasons why

By Nicholas McGee

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 29: Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after stopping Jacob Hollister #48 of the Seattle Seahawks short of the goal line during the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 26-21. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 29: Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after stopping Jacob Hollister #48 of the Seattle Seahawks short of the goal line during the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 26-21. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 29: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The San Francisco 49ers top the Seattle Seahawks 26-21.(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 29: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The San Francisco 49ers top the Seattle Seahawks 26-21.(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

5. A second-year leap from Jimmy Garoppolo

Garoppolo is entering his seventh season in the NFL but 2020 will mark just his second full season in the Kyle Shanahan offense, his first having been curtailed by a torn ACL in Week 3 of the 2018 campaign.

After throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns in a 2019 season he has not received enough credit for, history suggests Garoppolo is set for an even more impressive year in 2020.

In his second year in the Shanahan scheme, Matt Ryan became league MVP, throwing for nearly 5,000 yards and 38 touchdowns in a dominant 2016 season. He led the NFL in touchdown percentage, yards per attempt, adjusted yards per attempt, yards per completion, quarterback rating, ESPN’s total QBR, net yards per pass attempt and adjusted net yards per pass attempt.

It isn’t realistic to expect Garoppolo to enjoy quite the same level of success. The 49ers quarterback doesn’t have the benefit of throwing to Julio Jones but does have a valuable year of experience in the system under his belt and has had the entire offseason to immerse himself further in the playbook.

The NFC West pass defenses beyond that of the 49ers are not imposing ones. Look for Garoppolo to take another step forward in 2020 and lead the Niners to divisional wins that will be critical to a second successive deep playoff run.