If the season ended today, the San Francisco 49ers would find themselves in the final playoff slot in the NFC. That means they would travel to Green Bay to play the Packers in the Wild Card round.
However, the season doesn't end today. The 49ers still have five games remaining on their schedule. They'll need to play better than they did on Sunday at Lumen Field if they hope to improve their chances of playing in the postseason. Another stumble like the one against the Seattle Seahawks could mean the 6-6 49ers end up watching the playoffs from home.
San Francisco has loftier goals than just reaching the postseason, though.
"The goal's never to just get to the playoffs," kicker Robbie Gould said on 95.7 The Game's The Morning Roast. "Listen, I'll be the first one to tell you, with three kids, I don't believe in participation ribbons. Just getting to the playoffs, if that's your mentality in the locker room, I guarantee those guys won't be here, on this team, very long because you walk by five Super Bowl trophies every day when you come to work.
"Getting to the playoffs is definitely a goal, but it's not the ultimate goal. You're not going to be happy if you just get to the playoffs. We've got to play complementary football, and the times that we've won games this year, that's what we've done. We have a five-game season, and guys are really excited to get back to work against Cincinnati."
A win on Sunday should help put the disappointing 30-23 defeat against the Seahawks out of their minds. The 49ers knew they were in for a tough battle in Seattle.
"We always know the games against Seattle are going to be close," Gould continued. "We know they're going to be physical, and they made a couple of more plays than we did, and we fell a little short. Usually, our team's really good at bouncing back from tough losses like that. I can tell you after yesterday's meeting, guys are excited to get back [into] the meeting rooms, and get back into that game plan, and excited to get back on the [practice] field to get ready for Sunday."
The 49ers will need exceptional play-calling from head coach Kyle Shanahan down the stretch, and outstanding play from their quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. Gould believes in both men.
"Listen, those guys, there's a reason that they win," Gould shared. "I think you have one of the greatest play callers to probably ever call an offense in the history of the National Football League. You have a guy like Jimmy G, who's a winner. That's what he does."
Gould was also asked about the relationship between Shanahan and Garoppolo on game days and its impact on the team.
"I think those guys are able to get on the same page and run plays that everyone is comfortable with," Gould said. "Jimmy and Kyle can talk on the sideline about what they see on the field. You can see something on the sideline, but you want some reassurance from those that are playing. I think those guys do a great job of that, and that's why they've been able to win so much."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Gould below.