I really feel like this comes at a crucial point in our season, too.
Look back at last year...We were pretty up-and down to open the season, going 3-6 through week 10. But then Love really locked in and the whole team went on a solid run to close out the season and head into the playoffs. From week 11 onward, we went 6-2.
Obviously we're in better shape right now record-wise compared to this point last season, but I think most would probably agree with me that it feels like we really haven't got everything dialed quite in yet and that it still largely feels like we're still looking to find our footing. Just a kind of uneven team in many ways.
But with all that in mind...like I said above, SF are IMO a lot worse than recent years. But I still think psychologically this could be an extremely important game. Yes, it's just regular season, but they've knocked us out of the playoffs in 19, 21, and 23, and as best I can remember the last time we beat them was early in the 2021 regular season. And of course a win would be important not just for our possible playoff seeding but it would make it very, very difficult for the 9ers to make the playoffs at all. I think that's a big boost - we get the monkey off our back in some ways, and don't have to worry about running into them in the postseason. I'm sure while they wouldn't say it out loud there are probably a lot of guys who have been with us a few years who would really like to avoid what feels like an inevitable playoff exit to SF.
Of course that sword cuts both ways too. Just like a win could serve as a springboard to everything coming together for a back-half run...a loss could be really damaging mentally, too. Hurts our playoff seeding, gives SF new life in the playoff race, and we have to deal with continuing to feel like they've got our number (even a weaker/reduced version). Don't mean to sound dramatic, but it really wouldn't surprise me if it ends up being a pretty pivotal, make-or-break type of game.