5 reasons 49ers can win the Super Bowl this year

1. Don’t sleep on Garoppolo

When the NFL kicks off next month, Garoppolo will suit up for the most important season of his life. Even after leading his team to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance, he must rebuild his stock value after missing big throws late in the Super Bowl.

No throw was bigger than the one Garoppolo overthrew to a streaking Emmanuel Sanders downfield in the latter minutes of the Super Bowl. The completion would have either given the Niners the lead with just over a minute and a half left in the fourth. Or, set them up in the red zone. Instead, it fell to the turf and eventually gave the ball back to Mahomes.

Garoppolo’s shortcomings led to rumors that general manager John Lynch would possibly move on from him this past offseason to sign Tom Brady. Of course, that did not take place. Although, the point stands that there seems to be a high level of uncertainty around who Garoppolo really is as a quarterback. Can he lead them to a Super Bowl win? Or, is he a passenger with a large contract?

Last year was Garoppolo’s best season. He played 16 games for the first time in his career, and he picked up career-highs in nearly every major passing stat.

The skepticism around Garoppolo creeps in when you see the team not ask him to do much. Meaning, is he worth the money? and is there a better option? In the team’s first two playoff games last season, the 49ers outscored opponents 64-30, yet he only threw for 208 yards with one interception and touchdown apiece in those two games combined. In the Super Bowl, he had just 219 yards with one score and two picks.

Garoppolo is a good NFL quarterback. In 2020, he will want to prove he belongs in that upper echelon and that he can lead the team to a Super Bowl win. With that much focus, he can take off, and that should be a positive sign.