NFC Playoff Picture: 49ers favored for one seed after blowout of Eagles

The San Francisco 49ers took a massive step towards their ultimate regular-season goal after blowing out the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in Week 13. San Francisco’s 42-19 win at Lincoln Financial Field moved them to within a game of the Eagles in the race for the NFC’s one seed. Should the 49ers beat the […]

Nicholas McGee

Dec 5, 2023 8:47 AM EST

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. — Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers took a massive step towards their ultimate regular-season goal after blowing out the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in Week 13.

San Francisco’s 42-19 win at Lincoln Financial Field moved them to within a game of the Eagles in the race for the NFC’s one seed. Should the 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and the Eagles lose to the Dallas Cowboys in primetime, the 49ers will stand atop the conference with four games to play.

FTN Fantasy’s DVOA playoff odds now has the 49ers as the favorites for the one seed, giving them a 55.4% chance to gain a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the postseason.

If the Eagles do suffer defeat in Dallas and the 49ers improve to 10-3, San Francisco would simply need to win out to clinch the one seed. For now, though, a more immediate goal is within their grasp. Here’s how the NFC playoff picture stands after Week 13.

NFC Playoff Picture

1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) – 1st in NFC East
San Francisco 49ers (9-3) – 1st in NFC West
Detroit Lions (9-3) – 1st in NFC North
Atlanta Falcons (6-6) – 1st in NFC South
Dallas Cowboys (9-3) – Wild Card
Minnesota Vikings (6-6) – Wild Card
Green Bay Packers (6-6) – Wild Card

In the hunt

Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
Seattle Seahawks (6-6)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7)
New Orleans Saints (5-7)

Can the 49ers clinch a playoff berth this week?

The short answer is yes, but they need help.

San Francisco will qualify for the postseason with a Week 14 win over the Seahawks and a loss for either the Packers or the Vikings.

The Packers face the New York Giants on Monday, while the Vikings do battle with the Las Vegas Raiders in a road game that is more difficult than it maybe seemed before Joshua Dobbs’ struggles in Minnesota’s loss to the Chicago Bears.

The 49ers will be entirely focused on their task at hand in a rivalry game with the Seahawks rather than events elsewhere. However, if the Niners take care of business and their former Bay Area neighbors do them a favour, they will be able to check off the first goal of the regular season.

What about the division?

The Rams’ victory over the Cleveland Browns last Sunday means the 49ers can’t clinch the NFC West this weekend.

A win over the Seahawks would eliminate Seattle from contention in the West, though the Rams would technically still be in the division race regardless of what happens in their game with the Baltimore Ravens.

But with a win over Seattle and a Rams loss in the Baltimore, the decision would, to all intents and purposes be San Francisco’s once again.