Prepare to rally behind the Las Vegas Raiders or the New York Giants as the San Francisco 49ers look to secure a playoff spot in Week 14 with a helping hand from one of these two teams.
First, the 49ers must handle business at home against the Seattle Seahawks. The two teams met in Week 12 at Lumen Field, with San Francisco coming out on top 31-13 in the NFC West clash. The 49ers enter the Week 14 rematch as a 10.5-point favorite.
Even with a win, San Francisco still needs to see a victory from either the Raiders or the Giants to guarantee their postseason spot with four games remaining.
The Raiders play host to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. However, Minnesota is a three-point favorite. Both teams are riding two-game losing streaks, making a Raiders win plausible.
A second scenario has the Giants beating the Packers at home on Monday night. Green Bay, which has won three straight and four of its last five, is favored by 6.5 points in that matchup. New York has enjoyed two consecutive wins and hopes for an upset this weekend.
While less likely, another pathway to clinching a playoff spot for the 49ers involves a victory over the Seahawks and a tie in both of the other matchups listed above.
Should all the pieces fall into place in Week 14, the 49ers will be secure in the knowledge that they will be headed to the playoffs for the third consecutive season and the fourth time in the last five years.