The San Francisco 49ers have continued to play very well at the end of the season with a five game winning streak and on Sunday they can end up in one of the top spots in the playoffs depending on how things shake out and that comes against the Arizona Cardinals in Phoenix and the game is big for Zona as well, as they could get into the playoffs with a win and a Saints loss and there is still plenty to play for in the NFC.
Here is a look back on Michael Crabtree and the 49ers from early in the season as he made his return and the team can still move up in the playoff standings, as the Niners can win the division after winning five games in a row if they win over the Cardinals and the Seahawks lose and that could be a huge boost for the team as they try to get back to the Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers are one of the favorites in the NFC this year after making it to the Super Bowl last season and after losing to the Baltimore Ravens in New Orleans, head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Colin Kaepernick are ready to try and get back to the championship game from the west division.
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The biggest issue for the 49ers this offseason is the wide receiver position after losing Michael Crabtree to a serious injury and that makes the trade for Anquan Boldin from the Ravens even more key, as he likely will be considered the number one starter on offense. Crabtree showed why he was a first round pick with his play last year and he connected with Kaepernick as he led the team with 85 catches for 1,105 passing yards and nine touchdowns. With Crabtree going down, the team will have to rely on Boldin along with young stars like A.J. Jenkins, Ricardo Lockette, Quinton Patton, Marlon Moore and Kyle Williams, who all will get a look in training camp.
The 49ers will benefit from a full season with Kaepernick under center after trading away Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs, but it will remain to be seen if he can dominate NFL defenses again after the success he had last season. The 49ers ranked 23rd in the league in passing yards per game behind a split season from Smith and Kaepernick, while Frank Gore helped the team rank fourth in the league in rushing yards per game with over 150 each contest. The defense will have to replace Dashon Goldson and they have some high expectations to live up to after ranking fourth in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game.
The team worked out Austin Collie as a possible addition after losing Crabtree and reports from NFL.com said that the 49ers likely won't add anyone until training camp begins at least. Collie worked with Peyton Manning for years before dealing with concussion issues and he has missed 22 games over three seasons. Collie has made over 165 catches in his career while playing in 42 games and he has nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in his short time in the NFL. Collie and Crabtree have put up similar numbers over the past three seasons overall and adding the former Colts receiver to the mix could be a big boost for both Boldin and Kaepernick.
The 49ers went 11-4-1 last season and will open the schedule this year with a playoff rematch from last postseason as they host the Green Bay Packers at home. Kaepernick had a breakout game against the Packers in the playoffs last year and set a record for rushing yards by a quarterback in the process. The schedule is tough early as the Seattle Seahawks are waiting in Week 2 on the road and then the team will play the Colts, Rams and Texans before heading into their bye week with three solid games against the Cardinals, Titans and Jaguars, all of whom finished under .500 last season.
