If the 49ers are going to reach the playoffs this season, they will need to do something the organization has not accomplished since 1972: overcome a 2-3 record to start the season.
Since that season, the worst start that resulted in a playoff birth came in 1985. The defending Super Bowl champions started that season 3-2, but losses to Chicago and Detroit would see them fall to 3-4 after the first seven weeks. San Francisco would win seven of the last nine contests to finish 10-6 before losing 17-3 in the wildcard game to the New York Giants.