Buffalo sits atop the AFC East as Josh Allen anchors a balanced, explosive attack with a stout defense, while Kansas City, Baltimore and Jacksonville shape a 14-team playoff field. The NFC leans on Philadelphia and San Francisco, but Detroit, Dallas and others push for the wild cards. The season centers on clutch defenses and opportunistic offenses, with coaching edge and health often tilting the standings. SB60 pits the familiar powerhouses in a classic Bay Area duel, San Francisco prevailing 30-27 as Purdy outduels Allen in a tight, hard-fought finale.

Expect a mix of seasoned contenders and playoff surprises, as depth on defense and a complementary run game become decisive. The path to February in Santa Clara hinges on maintaining pressure, closing out tight games, and maximizing a few key skill-position players around elite quarterbacks. The 14-team playoff landscape means every matchup matters in December, with home-field and health shaping a championship run for the ages.

San Francisco faces a razor-thin path back to the postseason in 2025, but a mix of health, progressive offense, and rookie impact could flip the script. The six-point plan hinges on staying healthy at the top, Brock Purdy reigniting his efficient ceiling, Mykel Williams delivering on the edge, Upton Stout locking down the nickel, Ricky Pearsall emerging as WR1, and a marked improvement on special teams to win close games. If those pieces click, the SF offense can reclaim its January bite and the defense can recapture its edge with veteran stars back in form.

Healthy core players—McCaffrey, Williams, Kittle, Bosa, Warner—and Purdy driving fewer risky plays are the baseline. Pearsall’s breakout, Williams’ pass rush, and Stout’s steadiness, plus a cleaner special-teams operation, would create a championship-grade foundation for a deep NFC run.

Ricky Pearsall is a Week 1 fantasy option for SF in 2025, boosted by Deebo Samuel Sr.’s move to Washington and Brandon Aiyuk’s knee injury that could sideline him early. With Jauan Jennings possibly limited, Pearsall could open as SF’s No. 2 pass catcher behind George Kittle, setting up a high-upside WR3 floor in large-field leagues. If Jennings sits, Pearsall vaults to WR2 territory in Week 1 against Seattle.

His late-season burst in 2024 (Weeks 17-18: 105+ yards, 23.8 PPR) plus Weeks 7-10 output (roughly 44.0 receiving yards and 17.4 PPR per game on ~5 targets) supports the case. Purdy’s chemistry with Pearsall adds intrigue, while Kittle remains the primary red-zone and top target in SF. Seattle’s Week 1 test is real, but the path to a strong start is there for Pearsall in a reshaped 49ers offense.