Last year, Rank predicted a 12-4 record. Instead, San Francisco won half as many games after suffering through one of the most injury-plagued seasons NFL fans had seen in decades. Rank gets a pass because no one saw that one coming.
The Niners are healthier entering the 2021 season and look to prove that last season, not 2019, was the anomaly. So what is Rank's prediction for this year's squad?
Rank predicts an impressive 14-3 record.
The three predicted losses are to the Arizona Cardinals on the road, Los Angeles Rams at home, and Seattle Seahawks on the road. Rank believes the final game of the season against the Rams in Inglewood could be a pivotal matchup.
"Week 18, with a chance to win the NFC West and take the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the 49ers come to SoFi Stadium, beat the Rams," Rank said. "49ers, 14-3, No. 1 in the NFC.
"I know this probably upsets Forty-Niner fans, who would rather me pick them for three wins. Listen, I've got to keep it real. This is a very good team, and you're going to be the No. 1 team in the NFC."
Here is a breakdown of Rank's game-by-game selections.
- At Detroit Lions, W
- At Philadelphia Eagles, W
- Green Bay Packers, W
- Seattle Seahawks, W
- At Arizona Cardinals, L
- Indianapolis Colts, W
- At Chicago Bears, W
- Arizona Cardinals, W
- Los Angeles Rams, L
- At Jacksonville Jaguars, W
- Minnesota Vikings, W
- At Seattle Seahawks, L
- At Cincinnati Bengals, W
- Atlanta Falcons, W
- At Tennessee Titans, W
- Houston Texans, W
- At Los Angeles Rams, W