So basically what they are now. And what the Rams are really. Most teams are in this boat, really, with the longer season and ever thinning talent pool to fill out 32 rosters. I can't think of any team out there that does not have a huge talent drop off from their starters. Well outside the teams that already suck so much dick that its not impactful when the bench warmers go in. And maybe the Lions, considering their scrubs put up another 13 against the Jags when the game was already long over.To be clear, the 49ers (or another West) team could still snatch the 7th seed from the Packers this year.
But given that _everyone_ assumes the 49ers would have to shed significant salary once they paid Purdy this offseason, this year's performance makes me think that at best they'll be a Stars and Scrubs team for the next few seasons, a threat when their starters are healthy, and an also-ran as soon as even a couple of them go down.
And unless the Packers have a total collapse, they are going to be the 5 seed. For all of Loves sophomore issues, we are still finding ways to win.