If the San Francisco 49ers keep winning, they won't have to worry about whatever is happening with the teams fighting below them to enter the playoffs. The 49ers entered Week 14 in the seventh and final spot in the NFC playoff picture. However, Sunday's rollercoaster overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals has boosted them back into the sixth-seed spot, where they sat before a Week 13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Below is a breakdown of the current playoff picture in the NFC, with the first four teams being the division leaders and the Arizona Cardinals set to host the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
- Arizona Cardinals, 10-2
- Green Bay Packers, 10-3
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10-3
- Dallas Cowboys, 9-4
- Los Angeles Rams, 8-4
- San Francisco 49ers, 7-6
- Washington Football Team, 6-7
Below are the top four teams in the hunt to make their way into the playoff picture.
- Minnesota Vikings, 6-7
- Philadelphia Eagles, 6-7
- Atlanta Falcons, 6-7
- New Orleans Saints, 6-7
The 49ers will host the Falcons at Levi's Stadium in Week 15, making the matchup crucial for both squads.
Following Sunday's game against the Bengals, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about the 49ers' current playoff chances. His response pretty much sums up his team's mentality—just keep winning and let everything else sort itself out.
"I don't know. I think [our playoff chances are] pretty good," Shanahan told reporters. "I mean, you guys probably know more of that than I do. I just know we've got to keep winning each game, is how I look at it.
"It felt good going into this game, and we got one more win, so I feel a little bit better. But I know that doesn't matter. We've got to keep winning each week. And if we keep doing that, then you don't ever have to really look at anybody else."
Following Sunday's game against the Falcons, the 49ers will close out the regular season at the Tennessee Titans, home against the Houston Texans, and finally, a visit to the Rams.