The San Francisco 49ers have two games remaining on their schedule. The team is approaching each with a playoff mentality, and it is in control of its own destiny. This weekend, they can clinch a playoff spot with a victory over the Houston Texans and a little help from the Carolina Panthers. Win out, and San Francisco won't have to worry about what anyone else does.
The 49ers failed to make the path to the postseason a bit easier, losing to the Tennessee Titans last week. However, a loss by the New Orleans Saints on Monday night has put them back in control of their situation.
"December, it's just a gut-check," tight end George Kittle told 95.7 The Game's Sean Salisbury and Ray Ratto on Wednesday. "If you're in playoff contention, every single game is a playoff game. We've been playing playoff games for like the last seven weeks, it feels like. We've had our ups. We've had our downs. Thankfully, we still get to play one the next week, and we usually bounce back at a high level."
Earlier, it looked like the 49ers' 2021 season was going to be a disaster. After winning the first two games of the season, San Francisco dropped four straight and five of six. Then the team bounced back, winning six of eight before the Week 16 loss to the Titans.
"I will say that when you play playoff games for the entire second half of your season, each week is basically a must-win," Kittle continued. "You really get to see what type of guys you have on your team. Guys have to step up, or you lose. I think we've had plenty of guys that have stepped up, that have found their footing, that are making plays—offense, defense, special teams.
"And I think we really found our identity, and know how to win. I think that's going to help us out a bunch going into these last two weeks. It's going to give us a shot to make the playoffs and give us a shot to go on the run we need to go on."
The 49ers are currently the sixth seed in the NFC playoff picture. However, that could change if the Texans pull off the upset on Sunday.
"I don't know the exact numbers. The one thing I do know is if we win both of the games that we're in," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday. "I know it's going to be hard if we lose any. So not taking it past that, you look at it as if you lose, your season is over, and if you win, it keeps going. And that's, to me, the definition of the playoffs. So our players are aware of that, and that's why we have to make sure we take care of business."
The Week 16 loss was disappointing, but the team returned from a few days off with a renewed sense of urgency and desire to finish the season on a strong note.
"I think guys got away for a couple of days, got to enjoy Christmas, and it's a playoff atmosphere now," quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said. "Now it's for real. And you know, it has been for a while now, but now the chips are really on the table. So it's an excited locker room, I'll say.
"Guys are confident right now. I know everything happened last week, but guys are confident just in the team that we have, and we know what we can do."
Coaches and players know that anything can happen if they can get into the playoffs. It's been one of those years. There hasn't been a dominant force, and nothing is guaranteed. Just look at the Texans' last game. They knocked off the heavily-favored Los Angeles Chargers 41-29.
"I would say that this is one of the craziest years in the NFL where there's just not a dominant team who's just sweeping people and just murdering them up and down the field," Kittle added. "This is one of those NFL seasons where it doesn't really matter what team you're playing; they have a chance to win."