The @49ers are the first team in NFL history to lose 5 straight games, each by 3 or fewer points.— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 15, 2017
San Francisco 49ers on the Wrong Side of NFL History
49ers: First Team in NFL History to Lose 5 Straight Games by 3 Points or Fewer
2017 Season — Week 6
49ers history
On October 15, 2017, the San Francisco 49ers made an unfortunate — and unprecedented — entry into the NFL record books. With a 26–24 loss to Washington, the 49ers became the first team in NFL history to lose five consecutive games, each by three points or fewer.
What made the streak even more painful was how close every game was. Across those five losses, the 49ers were defeated by a combined total of just 13 points. Despite being competitive week after week, San Francisco repeatedly came up short in the final moments.
The Five Close Losses
Each of these games was decided by a field goal or less — margins so thin that a single play, missed opportunity, or late mistake proved decisive.
- Week 2: Loss by 3 points
- Week 3: Loss by 2 points
- Week 4: Loss by 3 points
- Week 5: Loss by 2 points
- Week 6: Loss by 2 points (26–24 vs Washington)
No other team in NFL history had ever endured a stretch like this — five straight heartbreaks, all decided by the smallest possible margins.
Why This Record Matters
This wasn’t a case of a team being blown out or clearly outmatched. Instead, the 49ers were consistently within striking distance, often leading or tied late in games. The inability to close out these contests became one of the defining storylines of the 2017 season.
2017 Season Context
The 2017 season marked Kyle Shanahan’s first year as head coach of the 49ers. San Francisco was in the early stages of reshaping its roster and culture, and while the early record was rough, these close games hinted at future competitiveness.
Final Thought
While painful in the moment, this stretch has become a unique piece of 49ers history — a reminder that seasons can hinge on just a handful of plays. Years later, it stands as both a statistical anomaly and a snapshot of a franchise on the brink of change.
Did you know? The combined margin of defeat across these five games (13 points) is fewer than the value of two touchdowns — spread across more than a month of football.
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