–The 49ers currently employ the NFL’s most accurate kicker, the NFC leader among tight ends in receiving yards, a guy tied for seventh in the NFC in sacks, and far and away the NFL’s pass-catching leader among fullbacks.
Yet when the Pro Bowl rosters were announced this week, only one guy was selected as a starter and one as a reserve.
Those going to Orlando: Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (starter) and tight end George Kittle (backup).
Those still awaiting a call as alternates: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, linebacker Mark Nzeocha and kicker Robbie Gould.
“I thought we had a number of guys that I thought had a good chance,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan claimed in the wake of the announcements. “The DeForest (snub) shocked me. I thought that was done. So that was the one I felt for the most.”
Shanahan said his list of candidates went deeper than the selection committee.
“I thought (left tackle Joe) Staley had a chance,” he cited. “Definitely thought Buck would make it. I thought Robbie had a real good chance. I thought Sherm (cornerback Richard Sherman) had a good chance.”
Juszczyk’s selection was his third straight. He has caught 29 passes for 309 yards this season.
Kittle has accumulated an NFC-best (for tight ends) 1,154 receiving yards on 72 catches, with four touchdowns. Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz earned the start with 101 catches, 1,038 yards and six touchdowns.
–The NFL schedule is designed to be diverse.
Teams are scheduled to play teams in their own division twice a season. But the other 10 games are determined on a rotational basis and by previous season’s standing.
Playing the same non-division opponent two seasons in a row happens quite a bit. Three years in a row? Sometimes.
Five seasons in a row? Hardly ever.
Yet here we are with the 49ers and Bears, who this week will meet for the sixth time in the last seven seasons, including five straight.
How?
Well, the 49ers and Bears were rotational opponents in 2015 and this year. In 2014 (second place), 2016 (fourth place) and 2017 (fourth place), they finished in the same place in their divisions.
The streak will end next season, when the NFC West’s matchup on divisional rotation will be the NFC South, and there’s no chance the Bears (10-4) and 49ers (4-10) will finish in the same place in the standings.
BY THE NUMBERS: 7 — The total number of December wins the 49ers have had last season and this season, tying the Los Angeles Chargers for the most in the NFL.
