The San Francisco 49ers clinched the number one seed in the NFC in Week 17, but that achievement did not move them up in the NFL power rankings heading into the final week of the regular season.

It's understandable, given the Baltimore Ravens also clinched a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, and the memory of Baltimore's emphatic win at Levi's Stadium is still fresh.

The 49ers won't leapfrog the Ravens in the minds of anyone until they beat them, and the only way that can happen is if they face off in Super Bowl 58 next month. Thankfully, having the first-round bye greatly improves the odds of that happening.

Writing in Sports Illustrated's latest power rankings, Conor Orr said of the 49ers:

"This is absolutely an unfair statement to make with hindsight being 20/20, but I am glad Christian McCaffrey is getting some time to heal up. I was surprised that McCaffrey’s load management looked like it did during the season, although, when someone is so responsible for the offense’s complexion, never mind its success, he kind of has to be on the field as much as humanly possible."

McCaffrey (339) has had more touches than any other player in the NFL this season, but the Offensive Player of the Year favorite will not play in Week 18 due to a calf injury. He essentially gets two weeks to heal and be ready for the Divisional Round, and McCaffrey is far from the only player who will benefit from that rest.

In the wake of their New Year's Eve win over the Washington Commanders, which, coupled with the Philadelphia Eagles' loss to the Arizona Cardinals, clinched the one seed, many 49ers spoke of the need for the additional week off, with several members of the roster having played through lingering injury issues.

Beyond McCaffrey, though, no player will be happier for the bye than defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who has missed the last four games with knee and foot injuries. 

Prior to that lay-off, Armstead was enjoying his best year since the Niners' Super Bowl season of 2019 both as a pass rusher and a run defender. The 49ers rank 29th in Expected Points Added Per play against the run and 23rd in Success Rate allowed in the last four games with Armstead on the sideline. 

The fact the 49ers have gone 3-1 in that period has perhaps overshadowed their struggles in that regard, but San Francisco ideally needs its defensive line at full strength to ensure it is an issue that does not become magnified in the postseason.

By the time the 49ers start their game week practice for the Divisional Round, Armstead will have had six weeks to recover. The Niners will have their fingers crossed that is ample time for him to do so and return to the fold.

Needing just two home wins to reach the Super Bowl is obviously a huge part of the appeal of getting the one seed, but it is the bye that is most beneficial. 

Every 49ers player will be glad of some time to watch the rest of the NFC playoff field on Wild Card weekend and, if Armstead is healthy to return and McCaffrey is back at his brilliant best, that opportunity could be the difference in San Francisco getting back to the grandest stage.

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It would be a risk.