Shanahan on 49ers playoff hopes after loss to Packers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
After another deflating loss, the 49ers have no room for error if San Francisco is to keep its 2024 NFL playoff hopes alive.
Coach Kyle Shanahan understands the sense of urgency the 49ers have to play their final six games after falling to 5-6 after Sunday’s 38-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
“Yeah, without a doubt. I think everybody knows that,” Shanahan told reporters on Monday’s conference call when asked if we view every remaining game as a must-win. “You only have to look at it for a few minutes to realize where we are. It’s nice to be one game out of first in your division. So that says a lot, especially that we were able to play two of those teams that we have left of six games. But you also look at the whole NFC picture, and if you don’t win the division, you’re not guaranteed to get in as a wild card this year. So I think everybody understands what it’s like inside and out the situation.”
Two weeks ago, San Francisco was 5-4 and had a chance to significantly improve its position in the NFC West. Shanahan explained how the 49ers’ brutal last-minute loss to the Seattle Seahawks especially stung.
That’s why the game in Seattle was so hard to lose, and that’s why last night was even worse,” Shanahan said. “We know what we’re in for. We know exactly what the situation is in the playoffs. It is what it is. But really all that matters is this week. When you need to run around and get a lot of wins to even think about it, then you better make sure there’s only one thing on your mind and that’s Buffalo. And so we had to take care of a lot of things today. I hope the guys here take care of their bodies during the day and a half they are away from us.
“We’ll come back on Wednesday when we fully understand the situation we’re in and we’ll come back ready to fight because the only thing we can do now is fight asses. And I’ll be very surprised that not every guy in this building When I see them, Wednesday is not ready for exactly the mindset that we will need to achieve what we feel we can.’
Sunday’s loss to the Packers dropped the 49ers to 11th in the NFC, setting up a daunting path for San Francisco to reach the postseason.
Entering the 2024 season with championship aspirations, the 49ers’ campaign thus far has been a huge disappointment. Especially for a franchise that has reached at least the NFC Championship game in four of the last five seasons.
With a tough game against the Buffalo Bills coming up, Shanahan and the 49ers need to find a way to turn their season around, and fast.
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