The late-afternoon games on Sunday featured some intense matchups that played a significant role in shaping the NFC playoff picture. The 49ers' matchup against Tennessee was perhaps the least intriguing game, as the home team was expected to win and did so in a fairly convincing fashion, advancing to a 10-4 record. However, three of the teams hovering around San Francisco in the playoff standings, Green Bay, Seattle, and the Rams, all have some serious questions coming out of their respective matchups.
Los Angeles Rams
11-3, Won vs. Detroit
Nothing to feel bad about gutting out a home win against a prideful Detroit Lions group fighting for their playoff lives. The defense showed some vulnerabilities that may be exploited down the road (quarterback Jared Goff threw for 338 yards, 3 TDs, and was sacked only once). However, the greater concern is with star receiver Davante Adams' hamstring, which he injured midway through the contest. Adams has been a touchdown machine this year in the red zone, leading the league in receiving scores by a three-touchdown margin, even after tallying none in Sunday's game against Detroit.
Hamstring injuries are tricky (as 49er fans well know), and Adams is only about nine days from his 33rd birthday. L.A. will almost certainly be without him for the critical divisional/conference matchup at Seattle this Thursday. The Rams finish their regular season against Atlanta and Arizona, so this matchup presents likely their toughest remaining game before the postseason, barring any other major injury news.
Seattle Seahawks
11-3, Won vs. Colts
Seattle was at home against a flailing Indianapolis Colts team that turned to 44-year-old Phillip Rivers in an attempt to save their season. Much of Seattle's success this year has been due to its excellent defense, and that was no different yesterday, aside from Rivers' ability to get the ball out on time, avoid sacks (only sacked once), and mostly avoid turnovers.
The concern for Seattle remains largely focused on the quarterback position. Suffice to say, Sam Darnold has been very good this year. He's turned the ball over more than you want from your starting quarterback (16 times in 14 games), but with a great defense, you can take some chances, and that's largely worked out for them. However, Seattle and Darnold know they're playing for significant playoff positioning now, and in yesterday's game against a struggling Colts team, they couldn't get into the end zone a single time.
Six field goals were enough to win, but the Colts' pass rush, without DeForest Buckner no less, was giving Darnold some anxiety in the pocket, and his play showed it. Fair or not, he's still got to live down the "seeing ghosts" quote from his early career struggles with the Jets. The last two games of the 2024 season which he completely melted down with the Vikings, only amplified that pressure. Seattle is good, but they'll only go as far as Darnold can take them, and that's still a huge question mark.
Green Bay Packers
9-4-1, Lost at Denver
The Packers were riding extremely high, rolling into Denver. Their defense has been outstanding, and the offense was starting to build some momentum, notching an impressive win last week against the Bears. A test against arguably the best defense in the league in Denver provided the opportunity to potentially take control of their NFC playoff destiny. Instead, they lost their unquestioned best player on defense, their starting RT, starting WR, and dropped a critical game at the worst possible time.
The early news out of Green Bay is that wide receiver Christian Watson avoided significant injury and could return this year, and the same goes for right tackle Zach Tom. Still, it seems likely that some time will be required for them to get back to the field, and the race for the playoffs will come without their services. Safety Evan Williams exited with a knee injury as well, but details on his situation are still sparse.
Beyond the manpower the Packers will be down, the mental toll on the team from losing a generational talent in pass rusher Micah Parsons, combined with all the draft capital and cash they forked over to get him, will be a difficult hill to climb. Green Bay still has lots of talent on both sides of the ball, but they're definitely reeling from a rough trip out West.
The Rest of the Field
The other teams contending for NFC position, Chicago (10-4), Philadelphia (9-5), Tampa Bay (7-7), and Carolina (7-7), played prior to yesterday's late games and had mixed results. Philly needed a win badly and got it against the rudderless Raiders, and Chicago easily dispatched the Browns to get back in the W column at an opportune time.
Tampa and Carolina seem to be in competition to see who can give away the division in the most embarrassing fashion (losing to the Falcons and Saints, respectively), and however the playoffs shape up, most of the other NFC contenders should be salivating at getting a shot at either one of them.
The 49ers obviously have plenty of their own issues, both with injuries and with stopping the run, but they're definitely accustomed to playing through the kinds of adversity their opponents are currently facing. The schedule that once looked to be the easiest in the league is now down to three games against opponents with a combined 29-13 record in the way of potentially securing home-field advantage—literally all the way through the Super Bowl.
San Francisco will need every ounce of its intestinal fortitude—and a little luck—to make that happen but it will definitely prime them for what lies ahead in the NFL playoffs.