18-Game Regular Season Winning Streak
The 2019 49ers: A historic turnaround.
The 2019 season was the San Francisco 49ers' 70th in the National Football League (NFL), their 74th overall and their third under the head coach-general manager tandem of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. They finished their 2019 season with a 13–3 record, their best finish since 2011. Starting the season 8–0 for the first time since 1990, the 49ers surpassed their win totals from the 2016, 2017, and 2018 seasons combined. The 49ers were the second straight NFC West team to start 8–0, with the other being the 2018 Rams.
With a Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers clinched their first winning season since 2013. Despite a loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15, the 49ers clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2013 with a Los Angeles Rams loss. The 49ers beat the Cardinals for the first time since 2014, won in Seattle for the first time since 2011, and beat the Panthers in the regular season for the first time since 2001.
Quick Facts
- Streak period
- Late 1989 to Early 1990
- Associated dynasty
- The Bill Walsh Era (1979-1988)
- Rivalry context
- Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys
Lore & Background
The 49ers saw significant improvements during the season on both sides of the ball, with some analysts naming it one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in NFL history. Their offense finished second in the league in scoring (479 points, most for the franchise since 1998), second in rushing yards per game (144 yards per game), first in rushing touchdowns (23), and third in point differential (+169). The defense was sixth in the league in forced turnovers (27), second in total defense (281.8 yards per game), first in passing defense (169.2 yards per game), and fourth in sacks (48).
This was the first time since 2003 that the 49ers finished in the top 10 in both scoring and yards per game. The 49ers had the best record in their conference, winning the head-to-head sweep tiebreaker with the Packers and New Orleans Saints. This was the first time the 49ers obtained home-field advantage throughout the playoffs since the 1997 season. In the playoffs, the 49ers defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Round and the Packers in the NFC Championship Game, advancing to Super Bowl LIV, their first championship appearance since the 2012 season.
However, the 49ers lost Super Bowl LIV to the Kansas City Chiefs 31–20. Despite having a 20–10 lead heading into the fourth quarter, the 49ers suffered their second Super Bowl loss in franchise history. It was the first time the 49ers lost a Super Bowl when leading after the third quarter (previously 4–0). The Niners also failed to join the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots as the only franchises to win six Super Bowls, or win their first title in 25 years.
Reader's Guide
The 2019 season included a 13–3 record, an 8–0 start, and a playoff run ending in Super Bowl LIV. Key wins included beating the Arizona Cardinals for the first time since 2014, winning in Seattle for the first time since 2011, and beating the Carolina Panthers in the regular season for the first time since 2001. The team clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2013 and home-field advantage for the first time since 1997.
More in Honours & Records
Elsewhere in San Francisco 49ers
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced