It could've all been so different.
It seems quaint now, but the San Francisco 49ers went into Sunday's game with the Los Angeles Rams with a huge opportunity.
Having already edged them out once this season, as well as beaten the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals, the Niners came in with a 6-3 record, but perhaps more crucially, a 3-0 record in the NFC West. In a division that's frequently tight and decided by tiebreakers, the 49ers holding the main one was a significant boon.
There was even a thought at one stage that San Francisco's brave efforts in the early part of the season (in spite of much injury attrition) could set up nicely to control the division when players came back.
Problem No. 1: The players haven't come back. Quarterback Brock Purdy, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, et al, are all still missing, while defenders Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Mykel Williams have been added to the long-term injury list since.
Problem No. 2: The game against the Rams presented an opportunity to not just move to seven wins, but likely take a stranglehold on the division with a 4-0 record.
That would also buttress the Niners against the likelihood of a late-season loss to the Seahawks; one division loss wouldn't lose San Francisco the tiebreaker and could actually help win the NFC West.
So, of course, the 42-26 capitulation to the Rams was a shattering blow.
It was a poor performance in many ways, but the biggest problem was losing the opportunity to take hold of the division. Losing invites the Rams to joint-top of the division, while the ever-improving Seahawks now top the trio and look set to remain the thorn in the 49ers' side for some time to come, even as they keep winning.
Yes, the dispiriting news that not only were the Seahawks ahead, but a long way ahead, in their own game against the Arizona Cardinals, somehow made the loss even worse. The Niners went from a potential stranglehold on the division to now needing to raise its game significantly in the remaining weeks, with the tiebreaker disappearing over the horizon.
There is, at least, an opportunity to gain back some divisional ground almost immediately, with next Sunday's game against the Cardinals representing a quick chance to gain back a divisional win and, with a bit of luck, gain some ground back on both their rivals. But Sunday's loss to the Rams has likely put the 49ers in a hole that will require them to pull out one more gritty, unlikely win. Namely, at home against the Seahawks in the regular-season finale.
In a year the depleted team needs all the help it can get, that's far from ideal. Perhaps the cavalry will arrive in time to produce a genuinely stirring end to the season.
But Sunday's pathetic effort makes that feel a long way away.
Over to you, Coach Shanahan.