After playing more or less 50-50 ball to start out the season in 2024, the San Francisco 49ers are on the wrong kind of streak, losing two of their games since the bye, including a divisional L to the Seattle Seahawks that might as well be worth double, considering how tight the NFC West standings are.Now granted, it’s not like the 49ers’ postseason dreams are over, as if they win out, they will most likely still represent the NFC West in the playoffs, but if their losing ways continue, this might just be the year where Shanahan’s magic wears off against a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately fanbase in the Bay Area.

Discussing the ramifications of his team’s loss in Week 12, Shanahan acknowledged to reporters on Monday that the 49ers are not in an amazing place right now in regards to the playoff picture, as a 10-7 team that doesn’t win their division very well may end up going home early without a wildcard berth.

“Yeah, without a doubt,” Shanahan stated. “I think everyone knows. You’ve just got to look at it for a couple minutes to realize where we’re at. It’s nice when you’re one game out of first in your own division. So that does say a lot, especially being able to play two of those teams left of our six games. But you also know, you look at the whole NFC picture and if you don’t win the division, it’s 10-7 not guaranteed to get in as a Wild Card by any means this year. So I think everyone understands completely outside and inside what the situation is.”

Interesting stuff, right? Well, wait, it gets even better as Shanahan broke down the 49ers’ organizational headspace heading into Week 13 and how they plan to attack the rest of their games.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium.
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Kyle Shanahan wants to get the 49ers back on track

So, how will the 49ers get out of the hole they’ve dug? Well, it all starts on Wednesday, when they can return to practice and hopefully coach the winning ways back into his players.