While the San Francisco 49ers had a bye this weekend, they still managed to climb back to the top of the NFC West standings. That's because the Seattle Seahawks fell to a 5-3 record for the season after a 37-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9.
The 49ers own the tiebreaker advantage against their rivals because of a better division record (2-0 compared to 1-1). The Seahawks briefly claimed the top spot following San Francisco's third consecutive loss. The 49ers hope to rebound next weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Two weeks later, the 49ers and Seahawks will clash in a Week 12 battle at Lumen Field. They'll face each other again in Week 14, this time at Levi's Stadium. With head-to-head contests being the primary tiebreaker, these games could have a significant impact in determining the NFC West crown.
With the 49ers on their bye week, every other NFC West team suffered a loss. The Green Bay Packers beat the Los Angeles Rams, while the Cleveland Browns shut out the Arizona Cardinals. The NFC West was outscored 84-6 in Week 9.
The current division standings are as follows:
1. 49ers, 5-3
2. Seahawks, 5-3
3. Rams, 3-6
4. Cardinals, 1-8
If the 49ers can turn things around after their break, their upcoming matchups against the Seahawks may prove to be pivotal contests in the NFC West race.