The 49ers already know they’ll be dwelling for the primary spherical of the playoffs, however there’s nonetheless a lot left to be decided — and there’s nonetheless an outdoor shot that they might find yourself because the NFC’s No. 1 general seed.
To earn the convention’s lone first-round bye, the 49ers (11-4) must win each of the video games left on their schedule — on the Raiders and at dwelling in opposition to the Cardinals — and get a whole lot of assist. The Eagles (13-2) must lose each of their remaining video games to the Saints and Giants, and the Vikings (12-3) must lose at the very least one in every of their final two video games in opposition to the Packers and Bears.
That confluence of occasions isn’t very doubtless: FiveThirtyEight offers the 49ers only a 2% likelihood on the No. 1 seed. That’s why the 49ers and their followers will doubtless maintain their eyes all throughout the NFC as San Francisco performs out its ultimate two video games of the common season to see who they’ll tackle within the wild-card spherical.
The 49ers can’t fall to the 4 seed, that means we already know they received’t face the Cowboys (11-4) within the first spherical, and the Eagles and Vikings are additionally out as division winners.
So which groups may the 49ers face within the wild-card spherical, and the way are they trying because the NFL will get prepared for the calendar to flip to 2023? Right here’s a breakdown:
New York Giants (8-6-1)
If the season ended as we speak, the Giants could be the 49ers’ opponent in a No. 3-vs.-No. 6 showdown. However after the Giants began the season 7-2, they’ve fallen again to the pack by going 1-4-1 of their final six video games. New York almost had its playoff spot locked up in Week 16, however misplaced to the Vikings on a buzzer-beating 61-yard area aim.
New York can clinch a playoff spot (and the No. 6 seed) in Week 17 at dwelling in opposition to the lowly Colts. In the event that they don’t win, their playoff spot could come right down to a Week 18 sport in opposition to the top-seeded Eagles in Philadelphia.
Washington Commanders (7-7-1)
Recent off getting pounded by the 49ers, the Commanders are nonetheless sitting in playoff place, even after beginning the season 1-4. But it surely’ll have been greater than a month since Washington picked up a win by the point it takes the sector once more, going 0-2-1 in December.
Regardless that they’re in final place within the NFC East, the Commanders are one in every of solely two groups contending for the ultimate two NFC wild-card spots to manage their very own future. Washington hosts the Browns in Week 17 and the Cowboys in Week 18, realizing that in the event that they win each, they’re assured to be in.
Seattle Seahawks (7-8)
When the Seahawks went to Munich to face the Buccaneers, they have been atop the NFC West at 6-3. They’ve gone 1-5 since then, together with three dwelling losses and getting dominated by the Chiefs in Week 16. They want one (or each) of the NFC East groups to lose to have a playoff likelihood.
The Seahawks received’t depart Seattle once more, internet hosting the Jets in Week 17 earlier than the Rams are available Week 18. Seattle will even be rooting in opposition to Inexperienced Bay, which might maintain the convention report tiebreaker if the Seahawks and Packers ended up tied for the seventh seed.
Detroit Lions (7-8)
After beginning the season 1-6, the Lions have been the most effective groups within the NFL for many of November and December, successful each sport however one (a last-second loss to the Payments on Thanksgiving) coming into Week 16. However Detroit’s good vibes crashed to a halt on Christmas Eve, when the Panthers ran for 320 yards on the Lions’ protection to cruise to a 37-23 win.
Now, Detroit should beat the Bears at dwelling to arrange a pivotal Week 18 matchup in opposition to the Packers at Lambeau Subject. They’ll want some assist to get there, however Detroit may nonetheless climb all the way in which to the No. 6 seed in Dan Campbell’s second season in cost.
Inexperienced Bay Packers (7-8)
After a stretch the place the Packers misplaced seven of eight video games to drop to 4-8 on the season and face elimination, Inexperienced Bay has heated up on the proper time to remain alive. The protection has led the cost for the Packers, holding the Bears, Rams and Dolphins to a median of 17 factors of their three-game successful streak.
The Packers would be the favourite workforce of 49ers followers this week after they host the Vikings, as a Inexperienced Bay win will open the door for San Francisco to climb to the No. 2 seed. They’ll conclude their two-game season-ending homestand in opposition to the Lions.
NFC South second-place workforce (6-9)
There's a very, very small shot that the second-place workforce within the NFC South could make the playoffs at 8-9 and the 49ers would solely face them if they'll leapfrog the Vikings into the No. 2 seed. For all three NFC South groups nonetheless alive — the Buccaneers (7-8), Panthers (6-9) and Saints (6-9) — the perfect path is to win the division. Whereas the Saints should not have the tiebreakers to make the playoffs as a wild-card workforce, there are eventualities the place each the Bucs and Panthers may.
It’d take a whole lot of assist to make it occur, however having both Christian McCaffrey’s previous workforce come to the Bay for the playoffs or Tom Brady get yet one more sport in his dwelling area in opposition to his childhood workforce may make for a enjoyable first-round sport.