49ers special teams struggled

Special teams was one of the 49ers issues this season, writes David Lombardi in his by-the-numbers recap of San Francisco's season:

“The 49ers lost 52.3 expected points through special teams this season, or 3.3 points per game. A blocked punt in Week 1, fumbled kick and punt returns, a string of missed field goals in Week 16 and a generally unproductive runback game were the culprits.

A team with robust offensive and defensive EPA figures might’ve overcome a 52.3-point drain, but the 49ers were not in such a position. They managed only +10.1 EPA on offense (No. 18) and +28.3 EPA on defense (No. 5). For perspective, Green Bay added 208.1 expected points with its top-ranked offense, while the Rams added 143.8 expected points with their top-ranked defense.”

Full article: The Athletic