The 49ers haven’t looked like Super Bowl contenders for much of the 2024 NFL season, leading former San Francisco safety Donte Whitner to fear the writing was on the wall.

On the latest episode of NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Hitner’s Hot Take,” Whitner explained why the Faithful might have to temper the big expectations for the rest of the 49ers’ campaign.

“I’m sorry to inform everyone, but the 49ers will not make the playoffs this year,” Whitner said. “After Sunday’s debacle in Green Bay, the 49ers are going home early this year and it’s not (because) they just lost to Green Bay, but it’s the issue in which they lost.”

Whitner cited the 49ers’ 38-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers and the collective performance as the main reasons he doesn’t see San Francisco making a postseason run.

In Week 12, San Francisco had just 241 yards to Green Bay’s 325 at Lambeau Field, and the 49ers had possession for 23:17, compared to the Packers’ 36:43.

The 49ers were flat against the Packers and are now 5-6 as a result. San Francisco also sits last in the NFC behind the 5-6 Los Angeles Rams, 6-5 Arizona Cardinals and 6-5 Seattle Seahawks, all of whom are a combined 3-1 against the 49ers.

“Now I’ve been wrong before,” Whitner said. “And I hope I’m wrong about this 49ers prediction. But this is not a championship team. This is not a playoff team. Until they return to their dominant, championship manner and execution, this is a below-average football team.”

Things don’t look rosy for San Francisco. The 49ers next have a date with the 9-2 Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium and then have a few more NFL playoff contenders on their schedule.

In addition, quarterback Brock Purdy of the 49ers is beaten up.

Whitner has tried to maintain San Francisco’s confidence all season. But even he couldn’t find any bright spots after the 49ers’ embarrassment on Sunday.

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