Daily Madden: Not A Must Win For 49ers, But Close To One
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Two NFL teams with 4-4 records, the 49ers and the Saints, meet in New Orleans Sunday.
"It's a different 4 and 4," John Madden told the KCBS Radio morning crew. "It's a different division. New Orleans 4 and 4 is a pretty strong 4 and 4. They're in pretty good position in their division and on the road to a playoff possibility. The 49ers, not so much. They have the surprising (7-1) Arizona in their division, they still have to play Seattle twice (and) they're not playing well."
Madden said half-way through the season, Sunday's game in New Orleans could be a turning point for the 49ers one way or the other.
"This is a big one for them. I don't believe that you get to this point in the season and you're 4 and 4 and this is a must win situation. But it's pretty close to one. At some point they have to get this thing turned around, get the arrow pointed in a different direction. And this is a tough place to do it; New Orleans is a difficult place to play."
Madden reiterated that last Sunday's 49ers loss was a major disappointment for the team.
"There's no way in the world that they should lose to the St. Louis Rams (at home). That's kind of a bottom-hitter there. So they have to get out of that and get that thing turned around." (7:10)
(Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 and Monday and Friday mornings at 9:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.)