- Programming note: Watch Donte Whitner give more great insights and analysis on “49ers Pregame Live” this Sunday at 9 a.m. PT.
Donte Whitner thinks the 49ers aren’t getting enough respect entering the 2020 NFL season, especially when compared to the New Orleans Saints (although 49ers insider Matt Maiocco disagrees).
If you look across the preseason prediction landscape, most pundits are choosing these two teams to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. (And then in most scenarios, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens.)
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Of course for 49ers fans, it would be even a harder pill to swallow falling to the Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch, a game in which players like Nick Bosa still can’t watch after their fourth quarter collapse.
Whitner, however, has some good news. He predicts the 49ers will take home the Lombardi Trophy, and here’s why.
Stacked defense
San Francisco 49ers
49ers are returning 10 of 11 starters, and it’s “a swarming, havoc causing” unit, according to Whitner. The 2019 squad only gave up 19.5 points per game (seventh best in the NFL). Hopefully first-round pick Jevon Kinlaw can alleviate the loss of DeForest Buckner. With a more dominant Nick Bosa, this prediction should hold true.
Trent Williams
“They upgraded their offensive line by adding the man beast,” Whitner boasts. No disagreement here. Before Trent Willams took a sabbatical, he was widely considered to be the best left tackle in the NFL.
Jimmy G
“He’s shown that he can make big plays in big games versus the great teams” We still bet he’d like to have that fourth quarter throw to a wide open Emmanuel Sanders in the Super Bowl back, but most experts, including SNF’s Cris Collinsworth, agree that they expect big things from Jimmy Garoppolo this season, especially with new weapons like Brandon Aiyuk and a healthy Jerick McKinnon.
It’s a solid argument in Donte Whitner’s favor. 49ers fans hope it also turns out to be prophetic.