NFC Playoff Picture: 49ers can still clinch one seed in Week 17
The San Francisco 49ers have opened the door to those chasing them for the number one seed in the NFC, but the race is still firmly in their control. San Francisco could have moved within one win of clinching the one seed, a first-round bye, and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with a win over […]
The San Francisco 49ers have opened the door to those chasing them for the number one seed in the NFC, but the race is still firmly in their control.
San Francisco could have moved within one win of clinching the one seed, a first-round bye, and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with a win over the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day. Instead, their emphatic 33-19 loss served to give the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys hope of catching them.
But even after a dreadful four-interception showing from Brock Purdy, the NFC West champions still command their own destiny, and the odds of ending the regular season as the NFC's top seed are stacked in their favor.
NFC Playoff Picture
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4) – NFC West champions
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) – First in NFC East
- Detroit Lions (11-4) – NFC North champions
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) – First in NFC South
- Dallas Cowboys (10-5) – Wild Card
- Los Angeles Rams (8-7) – Wild Card
- Seattle Seahawks (8-7) – Wild Card
In the hunt
- Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
- Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
- Green Bay Packers (7-8)
- New Orleans Saints (7-8)
One seed still within grasp
Despite coming off a comfortable second-best against the AFC's one seed, the 49ers, according to The New York Times' playoff simulator, still have a 79 percent chance to end the season as the top seed in the NFC.
The 49ers will be the one seed if they win their final two games against the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Rams. With some help, they can clinch it on Sunday by winning on the road against Washington, though they would still need some help.
Indeed, the 49ers will be the one seed with a Week 17 win if the Eagles and Lions suffer defeats to the Arizona Cardinals and the Cowboys respectively.
A strong bet for the Super Bowl
Even with the Ravens producing a performance that suggested they would be a nightmare Super Bowl matchup for the 49ers, San Francisco is still a heavy favorite to win the Lombardi Trophy.
The 49ers have a 37 percent shot to end the season as Super Bowl champions, per the NYT, with the Ravens 18 percentage points behind on 19%.
San Francisco will be expected to recover from their Christmas Day letdown and take care of business in the final two games, with their position as favorites in part tied to the likelihood of them gaining the bye. Still, after falling so flat in a contest billed as the game of the year, plenty will be questioning whether the 49ers are worthy of that status.
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