After the Niners loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, their record falls to 3-4. By comparison, they were 5-2 at this point last year. The 49ers, who have been viewed as a Super Bowl contender in recent years, have had high expectations due to their strong roster, elite defense, and talented offensive weapons like CMC, Deebo, Kittle, and Aiyuk along with quarterback Brock Purdy.

This year, injuries have been particularly devastating for the Niners after CMC was diagnosed with tendonitis, Brandin Aiyuk suffered a season ending knee injury, and Ricky Pearsall was shot during the preseason. Without these key offensive weapons, the Niners have struggled heavily. Additionally, without these weapons, Purdy struggled heavily throwing 3 interceptions, only 200 yards, and no touchdowns.

That said, the 49ers have shown resilience in overcoming rough patches before, and as long as they can address key weaknesses and stay relatively healthy, they should remain in contention. It’s not time to panic yet, but watching their upcoming games and seeing how they respond to adversity will be crucial in determining whether they remain a top contender.