49ers make ugly NFL history with stunning losses to Packers, Bills – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

It’s been a tough 2024 NFL season for the 49ers – and two very tough weeks in particular.

After San Francisco’s stunning losses in Weeks 12 and 13 to the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills, respectively, the reigning NFC champions now find themselves on a somewhat unfortunate note in the NFL record books, as ESPN’s Nick Wagoner pointed out.

#49ers are the first reigning conference champions since the 1970 merger to lose consecutive games by more than 25 points. https://t.co/Q32Dhq0sHW

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 2, 2024

The 49ers’ 38-10 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field last weekend and their 35-10 loss to the Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sunday marked the worst two-game stretch by a reigning conference champion since the merger. Backup quarterback Brandon Allen started the 49ers’ loss to the Packers as Brock Purdy was dealing with a shoulder injury, but the offense couldn’t do anything in Sunday’s loss to the Bills with Purdy back on the field.

The most recent loss left San Francisco just 5-7 this season, making a return to the NFL playoffs very unlikely for the team.

According to Sunday Night Football, the loss in Buffalo marked just the fourth time in 49ers history that the team fell behind by 25 or more points in consecutive games. The back-to-back demoralizing losses were also reminiscent of coach Kyle Shanahan’s first season with the 49ers, in which the team finished 6-10 (per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle).

The #49ers have lost their last two games by 53 points, matching their highest two-game total since being beaten by the Cowboys (40-10) and Eagles (33-10) in consecutive weeks in 2017 and Kyle Shanahan fell to 0-8 first season.

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) December 2, 2024

Of course, the 49ers ended Shanahan’s first season in the Bay on a winning note after acquiring quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots before the trade deadline.

Could they find similar momentum to finish strong this season as well? It remains to be seen, but San Francisco certainly needs to start putting up more points and allowing fewer touchdowns if the team wants to have any hope of returning to the postseason.