All 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan desires is an opportunity to get into what he calls “the match.”
Even with a 4-4 document, the 49ers are already in place with the No. 7 and closing seed within the NFC. And whereas catching the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles could also be problematic, the NFC West and a house playoff berth stay very a lot in play.
A have a look at how the NFC is presently seeded close to the halfway level of the season:
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-0)
Ranks: Third in scoring offense (28.1), fourth in scoring protection (16.9)
Outlook: Appears like clean crusing for the NFC East leaders to 14-3 or 13-4 at worst. Key video games embrace at Dallas in Week 16 and residential vs. Giants in Week 18. A very good likelihood they received’t must go on the street within the playoffs. Turnover margin of plus-15 is much and away the most effective within the NFL and a outstanding complete by means of eight video games.
Quarterback: Jalen Hurts has 12 landing passes and simply two interceptions and has rushed for 326 yards and 6 touchdowns. He’s a viable MVP candidate together with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.
Considerations: Relating to that huge turnover differential, what occurs in opposition to a playoff-quality group who takes care of the ball?
The 49ers’ matchup: Coach Kyle Shanahan would take lifeless intention at Philadelphia’s run protection, which has given up 5.1 yards per try.
2. Minnesota Vikings (6-1)
Ranks: Ninth in scoring offense (24.7), 14th in scoring protection (20.6)
Outlook: Answerable for the NFC North below rookie coach Kevin O’Connell as the opposite three groups every have 5 or extra losses. Za’Darius Smith has added a badly wanted move rush component with 8 ½ sacks defensively.
Quarterback: Kirk Cousins is at his greatest when not requested to hold the offense together with his arm. The higher operating again Dalvin Cook dinner performs, the higher Cousins performs. Has elite 1-2 receiving punch in Justin Jefferson and Adam Theilen.
Considerations: Schedule signifies Vikings may very well be paper tigers. Misplaced a one-sided sport to Philadelphia in Week 1. Win over Dolphins with out Tua Tagovaiola was their solely victory over group with a profitable document.
The 49ers’ matchup: Vikings are giving up a whopping 383.1 yards per sport on protection. Cousins is 2-1 within the common season vs. 49ers however 0-1 within the playoffs.
3. Seattle Seahawks (5-3)
Ranks: Fourth in scoring offense (26.3), twenty sixth in scoring protection (24.9)
Outlook: Shock leaders of the NFC West in a 12 months the place they have been anticipated to complete fourth. By eight video games, one of many best teaching jobs by Pete Carroll. Have received final three vs. Cardinals, Chargers and Giants.
Quarterback: None aside from Geno Smith, who in opposition to all odds has truly been an improve over Russell Wilson. Smith is finishing 72.7 p.c of his passes with 13 touchdowns and simply three interceptions.
Considerations: Lack of Rashad Penny after 5 video games might present up later when it comes to robust operating sport particularly if rookie Kenneth Walker III falters. Giving up 4.7 yards per keep it up the bottom defensively.
The 49ers’ matchup: Rematch in Seattle is on Thursday evening, Dec. 15 after the 49ers prevailed 27-7 in Week 2 within the sport Trey Lance was misplaced for the season to a damaged fibula.
4. Atlanta Falcons (4-4)
Ranks: Sixth in scoring offense (25.0), twenty ninth in scoring protection (25.6)
Outlook: A sport up on Tampa Bay and New Orleans within the NFC South standings, the division may very well be there for the taking with 9 wins. Atlanta’s energy operating and ball management assist compensate for a protection that provides up an excessive amount of.
Quarterback: Marcus Mariota is again a starter after two seasons as Derek Carr’s backup with the Raiders and has acquitted himself properly throughout the confines of what the Falcons ask him to do as a passer and occasional runner.
Considerations: Extraordinarily slender components of energy soccer and time of possession will make issues tough if Atlanta falls behind in opposition to anybody.
The 49ers’ matchup: Efficiently performed bully-ball in opposition to the 49ers in a 28-14 win on Oct. 15, although the 49ers have been lacking a number of key gamers on each side of the ball.
5. Dallas Cowboys (6-2)
Ranks: 14th in scoring offense (22.9), third in scoring protection (16.6)
Outlook: Second within the NFC East, the Cowboys owe an enormous debt of gratitude to backup quarterback Cooper Rush. He received 4 of 5 begins, taking good care of the ball with the Cowboys profitable on protection. Protection alone ought to get the Cowboys into the match. Micah Parsons is a game-wrecker.
Quarterback: Dak Prescott is again and may very well be the higher for his absence with the Cowboys realizing he doesn’t want large stats to win as a lot as a balanced assault.
Considerations: Anybody else involved with some type of incomprehensible collapse? Particularly with Mike McCarthy as coach and Sean Payton out there.
The 49ers’ matchup: Misplaced to Jimmy Garoppolo a 12 months in the past with a foul thumb and a bum shoulder. The Cowboys are ranked twenty fifth in opposition to the run and will have their arms full with Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell and Deebo Samuel.
6. New York Giants (6-2)
Ranks: twenty first in scoring offense (20.4), seventh in scoring protection (19.6)
Outlook: Third within the NFC East, the Giants are a menace to make the playoffs below rookie coach Brian Daboll after 5 straight seasons of 10 or extra losses and may very well be 8-2 heading right into a Dallas rematch with upcoming video games in opposition to Houston and Detroit.
Quarterback: Daniel Jones has taken to Daboll’s offense as a secure passer with the power to run the ball. He had three offensive coordinators in his first three seasons with the Giants – Mike Shula, Jason Garrett and Freddie Kitchens.
Considerations: An enormous quantity of the Giants’ assault rests with operating again Saquon Barkley (779 yards speeding). Good defensive groups can have their approach with a one-trick pony.
The 49ers’ matchup: One other group that's challenged in the case of run protection, giving up 5.5 yards per try. That’s a weak point that performs right into a 49ers’ energy.
7. 49ers (4-4)
Ranks: 18th in scoring offense (22.0), fifth in scoring protection (18.4)
Outlook: After the commerce for Christian McCaffrey and an eighth straight regular-season win over the Rams, all is true with the world. The 49ers additionally look like getting extra wholesome.
Quarterback: Jimmy Garoppolo is coming off his greatest sport of the season in opposition to the Rams and presumably could have each McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel at his disposal within the close to future.
Considerations: Accidents are at all times lurking the place the 49ers are involved. McCaffrey has a historical past of damage as does Elijah Mitchell, who's getting back from an MCL pressure. The 49ers’ energy is operating the ball.
8. Washington Commanders (4-4)
Ranks: seventeenth in scoring offense (17.8), fifteenth in scoring protection (21.5).
Outlook: Don’t look now, however this mess of a Daniel Snyder franchise is one spot shy of playoff place however has three NFC East groups forward of them. The offense is shaky, however defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne and edge rusher Montez Sweat can get after the quarterback.
Quarterback: Taylor Heineke has taken over for the injured and much-maligned Carson Wentz and is 2-0. It stays to be seen if Wentz, with a fractured finger on his throwing hand, will get his job again.
Considerations: The Commanders haven't any discernible offensive energy exterior of large receiver Terry McLauren.
The 49ers’ matchup: The 49ers have had points on third down offensively. Washington is giving up simply 31.5 p.c conversions defensively on third down.
9. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
Ranks: twenty eighth in scoring offense (16.9), 18th in scoring protection (22.4)
Outlook: Third within the NFC West, the Rams haven’t regarded the a part of a Tremendous Bowl champion in a single sport this season and scored 34 factors complete in decisive losses in opposition to Buffalo, Dallas and the 49ers. Any group with Aaron Donald and Bobby Wagner on protection can have its moments.
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford has his moments however his supporting forged isn’t performing practically on the stage it did a 12 months in the past.
Considerations: The Rams have Cooper Kupp and little else when it comes to consistency on offense.
The 49ers matchup: Final 12 months’s NFC title sport apart (and the 49ers had a 10-point fourth-quarter lead), it’s clear the Rams need no a part of San Francisco.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)
Ranks: twenty fifth in scoring offense (18.3), sixth in scoring protection (18.9)
Outlook: Nonetheless a menace within the NFC South, in second place in a division the place no group is above .500. The Buccaneers defensively stay robust however haven’t produced sufficient offensive and have misplaced 5 of six.
Quarterback: Tom Brady at age 45 nonetheless avoids interceptions – he has just one in 340 makes an attempt. However his targets have been lower than dependable when it comes to each route operating and drop too many passes.
Considerations: Leonard Fournette is averaging simply 3.4 yards per carry and it’s an enormous ask for Brady to be carrying this offense together with his proper arm.
The 49ers’ matchup: We’ll discover out on Dec. 11 when the Buccaneers go to Levi’s Stadium in Week 14.
11. Inexperienced Bay Packers (3-5)
Ranks: twenty sixth in scoring offense (18.1), sixteenth in scoring protection (21.6)
Outlook: The Packers are in second within the NFC North and will nonetheless win the division if the Vikings fall again to earth. Giving up 316.0 yards per sport would point out a playoff protection which suggests it’s on the shoulders of the quarterback.
Quarterback: It’s been a scorched teammate marketing campaign for Aaron Rodgers, who can’t appear to get in sync with receivers now that Davante Adams is gone. Don’t put it previous Rodgers to have higher second half and get the Packers in postseason place.
Considerations: Apart from receivers, the Packers’ offensive line has been “constantly inconsistent” within the phrases of offensive coordinator Aaron Stenavich.
The 49ers’ matchup: Nobody ever actually desires to must face Aaron Rodgers – besides perhaps the 49ers primarily based on a few of his current video games in opposition to them.
12. Arizona Cardinals (3-5)
Ranks: fifteenth in scoring offense (22.8), thirtieth in scoring protection (26.3)
Outlook: At present in final place within the NFC West, the Cardinals principally have fallen and haven’t gotten again up after starting final season with seven straight wins. We’ll know in the event that they’re contenders or pretenders after going through division foes Seattle, the Rams and 49ers of their subsequent three video games.
Quarterback: Kyler Murray continues to do Kyler Murray issues, trying like a game-changing playmaker one minute and a gimmick quarterback the subsequent. Murray needs to be higher now that DeAndre Hopkins is again with 22 receptions in two video games following a six-game suspension.
Considerations: Murray stays the Arizona prime operating menace – by no means a wholesome proposition. One of the best defensive participant is 33-year-old finish J.J. Watt. That’s not very best both.
The 49ers’ matchup: The 49ers have laid a few of their greatest eggs in opposition to Arizona, and hope to keep away from that with a Nov. 21 date in Mexico Metropolis and a Week 18 sport at Levi’s.
13. New Orleans Saints (3-5)
Ranks: Eighth in scoring offense (24.9), twenty eighth in scoring protection (25.0)
Outlook: Arduous to know what to assume after posting a shutout of the Raiders regardless of lacking key gamers. The protection had been a sieve earlier than then. Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill are two of the extra versatile backfield weapons within the league.
Quarterback: Andy Dalton has 9 landing passes and 4 interceptions in 5 begins subbing for the injured Jameis Winston and it’s unclear if he’ll preserve the job when Winston is wholesome.
Considerations: Even with their favorable rating in scoring offense, the Saints first misplaced Drew Brees to retirement then Sean Payton as a result of he had a fairly good thought what was coming.
The 49ers’ matchup: We’ll see who’s at quarterback by the point New Orleans pays a go to to Levi’s Stadium in Week 12.
14. Chicago Bears (3-5)
Ranks: twenty third in scoring offense (19.4), nineteenth in scoring protection (22.6)
Outlook: Protection appeared overmatched in a 49-29 loss to Dallas and it was a foul look when the Bears dealt Roquan Smith, their greatest defensive participant, to the Baltimore Ravens. It positive regarded like a white flag.
Quarterback: The Bears of late have tweaked their offensive system to higher swimsuit the passing/operating abilities of Justin Fields. Fields can't carry a sport together with his arm, with simply seven TD passes in eight video games. His 424 yards speeding preserve defensive coordinators up nights, nevertheless.
Considerations: Merely not sufficient of a passing offense to be a playoff group within the fashionable NFL.
The 49ers’ matchup: The 49ers would love one other shot on the Bears given their 19-10 loss in Week 1 with Lance at quarterback and a second-half monsoon.