A lot is at stake in Saturday night's matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers enter Week 18 coming off a pivotal 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears, while the Seahawks rolled past the Carolina Panthers 27-10.
Both teams carry six-game win streaks into the regular-season finale. The winner will secure the NFC West title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, and home-field advantage. For the 49ers, that could mean up to three playoff games at Levi's Stadium—including Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.
San Francisco's offense has been nearly unstoppable since the bye week, racking up 1,366 total yards and scoring at least 37 points in each of the last three games.
How does the national media view the 49ers compared to the rest of the league? Below is a roundup of the latest NFL power rankings, highlighting where San Francisco currently stands in each. As always, the highest rankings are listed first.
FOX Sports
Current Ranking: 3
Previous Ranking: 7
"That was a heavyweight victory against the Bears. Their offense has been on fire the past three games, and a Super Bowl in their home stadium is looking more realistic every week." — Ralph Vacchiano
The Athletic
Current Ranking: 4
Previous Ranking: 6
"With George Kittle out and Trent Williams missing all but one play, the 49ers averaged 7.3 yards per play against the Bears and now lead the NFL in scoring in December (42.3 ppg). Kyle Shanahan has overcome a Biblical smiting's load of player absences to have San Francisco playing for the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed this weekend. 'He plays on the emotion of the defense,' Christian McCaffrey said. He has us feeling things, too, Christian." — Josh Kendall and Chad Graff
ESPN
Current Ranking: 4
Previous Ranking: 6
"What we learned this season: Kyle Shanahan is long overdue to be NFL Coach of the Year. Shanahan has nearly won the award twice -- finishing second in 2019 and 2022 -- but this is his best work yet. After a massive offseason roster reset, the Niners viewed 2025 as a chance to grow with young players in hopes of sneaking back into the playoffs. Instead, Shanahan has the Niners one win away from the NFC's No. 1 seed despite injuries to multiple stars. Rehiring defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was a big offseason move for which Shanahan deserves credit, but he also has San Francisco's offense playing like the NFL's best down the stretch. He has proved once again that he's as good as any coach at designing an offense while motivating the entire team." — Nick Wagoner
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 5
Previous Ranking: 7
"Brock Purdy is on a tear right now as they try to lock up the NFC's top seed. He has been special the past two weeks." — Pete Prisco
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 5
Previous Ranking: 7
"What can you say? The team that many wrote off because of injuries now is one win away from clinching a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That's a testament to what Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have built: a tough-minded team with explosive offensive potential. Even the defense, shorthanded as it might be, provided enough big plays to finish off a very good Chicago team on Sunday night. There might not be much margin for error, however. The 49ers really need to be this efficient offensively to run through a good NFC field in the postseason, but it feels more possible now than it has all season. With Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey playing some of their best ball down the stretch -- and especially in this strange, unexpected season -- it's absolutely within the realm of possibilities." — Eric Edholm
Pro Football Talk
Current Ranking: 5
Previous Ranking: 9
"Brock Purdy is playing like Josh Allen." — Mike Florio
Sporting News
Current Ranking: 5
Previous Ranking: 7
"he 49ers' offense is back put together with Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey looking sharp together for Kyle Shanahan. They will be a tough No. 1 seed if they are able to stop the Seahawks a second time in Week 18." — Vinnie Iyer
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 5
Previous Ranking: 11
"The one thing about Sunday's 49ers-Bears epic that stood out to me a few days later? On the final play of the game, with San Francisco's defense absolutely gashed and beaten, not a single Chicago player was open. And Ben Johnson is one of the best situational play-callers in football." — Conor Orr
USA Today
Current Ranking: 5
Previous Ranking: 4
"Why aren't they No. 1 … even though they might wind up there in the overall NFC standings? They're not even two years removed from a near-miss Super Bowl, can light up a scoreboard with anybody − largely because QB Brock Purdy has a blazingly hot hand, and RB Christian McCaffrey has become a helluva rhythm guitar for this offense. But have the Niners lost too many key bodies, especially on defense, to survive in January … even if LB Fred Warner somehow returns at some point in the playoffs? Run enough track meets, and you're bound to get dangerously fatigued." — Nate Davis
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 5
Previous Ranking: 11
"For many weeks, it has been hard to reconcile a team with a defense as bad as the 49ers (26th in DVOA) being a top-five team. San Francisco gave 440 yards and 38 points at home Sunday night. But the Niners scored enough to win, as they've done many times this season. Their offense is the hottest in the NFL right now. If they beat Seattle on Saturday night and get the No. 1 seed, that offense will be two home wins from a Super Bowl, which would also be in Santa Clara. Maybe, in an NFL season with so many flawed contenders, the 49ers can pull this off." — Frank Schwab
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 6
Previous Ranking: 9
"The San Francisco 49ers are a movie, not a football team. The team has been ravaged by injuries on both sides of the ball. The defense is dead-last in sacks. Its best offensive weapon is an aging back who has touched the ball all the times ever this season. The starting quarterback was Mr. Irrelevant. But wait, there's more. San Francisco's star tight end and fan favorite? Out Sunday night against the Bears. The 49ers' Hall of Fame offensive tackle? Hurt early in the game. And yet, as has been the case so often this year, the Niners just keep winning. This tattered, flawed team led by a nobody quarterback will be the NFC's No. 1 seed with a win Saturday night against the Seattle Seahawks. Never mind. It's too unbelievable for a movie." — Gary Davenport
The Ringer
Current Ranking: 11
Previous Ranking: 12
"San Francisco's offense has been lights-out this year—especially when it has had a healthy Brock Purdy. Since Purdy returned from his toe injury in Week 11, only the Jaguars have scored more points and only the Patriots have a higher passing success rate. Kyle Shanahan is doing the best coaching of his career, and has earned his team a shot to win the top seed in the NFC. On talent alone, it's hard to see the 49ers matching up with Seattle on Sunday, but with how unstoppable this offense has been, I won't dismiss the chance that the 49ers clinch the division and the no. 1 seed along with it." — Diante Lee
Comments