Kyle Shanahan isn't worried about what the rest of the NFL is doing—at least, not right now. Most of the San Francisco 49ers remain focused on the opponent ahead, not the developing NFC playoff scenarios.
The Niners remain in the No. 6 spot in the NFC playoff picture. If they keep winning, they will have nothing to worry about. That makes Thursday night's road game against the Tennessee Titans very important. After that, San Francisco will worry about the Houston Texans and then the Los Angeles Rams.
The prominent theme among coaches and players has been the task at hand, not what everyone else in the league is doing. However, at least one 49ers player can't help but keep an eye on the scoreboards. It's just part of his competitiveness.
"I'm always watching football," wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk told 95.7 The Game's Damon Bruce and Ray Ratto on Tuesday. "But I think now, more, I'm starting to understand how everything works and who we want to win, who we want to lose, or just kind of getting the extra breathing room, or who we're rooting against, or who we're rooting [for].
"I've noticed that, actually, within the past couple weeks, that I've started paying attention to scores a lot more. Even in the stadium, when they said Arizona lost (on Sunday), I was happy about that one, even though it wasn't too much a difference for us. But just seeing the Cardinals lose, that was a good one."
Continue to win, and the 49ers could step into the No. 5 seed. There is even a scenario where San Francisco could overtake the Arizona Cardinals for the NFC West crown. Although, that would require the team from the desert to lose all of its remaining games. It's been a strange NFL season, though, so nothing is impossible.
These next few weeks will be interesting for the wide-open NFC playoff picture. Take care of business, and the Niners will find themselves in a good situation.
As for Aiyuk, he will be keeping an eye on updates from around the league. Thanks to him and his improved play, San Francisco could find itself playing past Week 18 and frustrating some opponents in the postseason.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Aiyuk below.
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