As we head into Week 11, it's about time to start looking at the NFC playoff picture and where the San Francisco 49ers currently find themselves positioned. The team is coming off a closer-than-it-should-have-been 22-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, improving its record to 5-4 and inching closer to the division-leading Seattle Seahawks, who lost this past weekend.
Next up for San Francisco is a trip to Mexico City to face the Arizona Cardinals at Estadio Azteca. That will be followed by games against the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If the season ended today, the 49ers would own the seventh and final Wildcard spot in the NFC and would be preparing to travel to U.S. Bank Stadium to face the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings. San Francisco has won its last two meetings against the Vikings, including the NFC Divisional Playoff matchup following the 2019 season.
Below are the current NFC playoff standings.
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)
- Minnesota Vikings (8-1)
- Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5)
- New York Giants (7-2)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (5-4)
* Division leaders in bold
Below are the teams just outside the current playoff picture but still within striking distance.
- Washington Commanders (5-5)
- Green Bay Packers (4-6)
- Atlanta Falcons (4-6)
- Arizona Cardinals (4-6)
Below are the Wildcard matchups if the season ended today. The Eagles would await the weakest-seeded winner to emerge from the first round of games.
- San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
- Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks
- New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers