Entering Week 11, the San Francisco 49ers held the seventh and final spot in the NFC playoff standings. However, heading into Week 12, after the team's 38-10 rout of the Arizona Cardinals in Mexico City, San Francisco's playoff picture looks brighter.
While the 49ers and Seattle Seahawks both own identical 6-4 records, San Francisco has beaten Seattle once this season, so it owns the tiebreaker between the two teams. That has lifted the 49ers into first place in the NFC West.
If the season ended today, the 49ers would be the No. 3 seed in the NFC and would be preparing to host the New York Giants at Levi's Stadium. San Francisco has won two of its last three matchups against the Giants, including the last meeting between the two teams, a 36-9 victory in 2020.
Next up for the 49ers are home games against the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Below are the current NFC playoff standings.
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-1)
- Minnesota Vikings (8-2)
- San Francisco 49ers (6-4)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-3)
- New York Giants (7-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
* Division leaders in bold
Below are the teams that would be on the outside looking in if the season ended today.
- Washington Commanders (6-5)
- Atlanta Falcons (5-6)
- Detroit Lions (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.
- Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings
- New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers
- Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers