Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reacts after the Kansas City Chiefs picked up a first down in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
A Sunday Night Football win over the Dallas Cowboys capped a rocky first eight weeks of the 2024 season for the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers moved to 4-4 with the win, but their .500 record at their Bye week leaves a lot to be desired. They struggled to score touchdowns in the red zone, their defense was up-and-down, their special teams were a disaster, and their inability to close games cost them two wins despite leading by 10 points in the fourth quarter.
The 49ers' early missteps have shrunk their margin of error if they want to win the NFC West and make the playoffs. If a 10-7 record is the benchmark to make the postseason, San Francisco can only lose three of its final nine games. That's not impossible, but it will be a daunting task with three division games left, two road games in Green Bay and Buffalo, and a home showdown with the Detroit Lions.
While the first half of the year was a mess, there's a silver lining for the 49ers as they go into their week off: San Francisco has been stellar after its Bye week under head coach Kyle Shanahan. If they continue the trend of post-Bye success, they should find themselves atop the NFC West and hosting a playoff game by the time the dust settles on the 2024 regular season.
Here's a look at their pre and post-Bye record every year under Shanahan:
2017
Dec 24, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throws under pressure from the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Pre-Bye: 1-9 (.100)
Post-Bye: 5-1 (.833)
2018
Dec 9, 2018; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) stiff arms Denver Broncos free safety Justin Simmons (31) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Pre-Bye: 2-8 (.200)
Post-Bye:2-4 (.333)
2019
Dec 8, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) celebrates a tackle for a loss in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Pre-Bye: 3-0 (1.000)
Post-Bye:10-3 (.769)
2020
Dec 26, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Jeff Wilson (30) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Pre-Bye: 4-6 (.400)
Post-Bye:2-4 (.333)
2021
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Ambry Thomas #20 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a game-ending interception in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Pre-Bye: 2-3(.400)
Post-Bye:8-4 (.667)
2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against Uchenna Nwosu #10 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of the game at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)
Pre-Bye:4-4 (.500)
Post-Bye:9-0 (1.000)
2023
Nov 12, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) and quarterback Brock Purdy (13) celebrate a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports
Pre-Bye: 5-3 (.625)
Post-Bye:7-2 (.778)
2024
Oct 27, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (31) slides short of the goal line in the final seconds of the game against Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (14) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
Pre-Bye: 4-4 (.500)
Post-Bye:TBD
Overall
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium on October 27, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Facing one of the weaker rushing defenses in the NFL, San Francisco instead utilized McCaffrey in a different phase, and climbed back above .500 in a Super-Bowl-or-bust season.
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