Most view the San Francisco 49ers' chances of overtaking the Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks in the race for the NFC West crown as slim. Yet the 49ers enter their bye week with the same number of wins as both division rivals, with just one additional loss separating them. After improving to 9-4 with a Week 13 victory over the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco now finds itself firmly in control of its playoff destiny thanks to results around the NFL.
The 49ers sit in third place in the NFC West with only one divisional game remaining: a Week 18 home showdown against the Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco won its Week 1 battle in Seattle and split its season series with the Rams.
Still, overtaking Seattle isn't out of the question. Additionally, Carolina helped the 49ers on Sunday by upsetting the Rams, preventing Los Angeles from widening the gap in the standings.
NFC West standings (after Week 13):
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
San Francisco also benefited from the Green Bay Packers' Thanksgiving win over the Detroit Lions, giving the 49ers a bit more breathing room in the NFC playoff race. The Lions, now 7-5, were looking to catch up to the 49ers in the standings.
If the season ended today, the 49ers would hold the NFC's seventh seed and be headed for a third showdown this year against the Rams at SoFi Stadium. A win in Southern California would send San Francisco to Chicago for a meeting with the top-seeded Bears, who jumped ahead of the Rams in Week 13.
NFC playoff picture (after Week 13)
- Chicago Bears (9-3)*
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3)*
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)*
- Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
- Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
* Denotes division leader
Next up for the 49ers is a Week 15 home matchup against the Tennessee Titans, followed by a challenging stretch against the Indianapolis Colts, Bears, and Seahawks. For now, the injury-riddled roster will take advantage of a well-earned break before the final playoff push.