The NFL schedule makers stacked some challenging competition at the end of the San Francisco 49ers' schedule. On Sunday night, the 49ers edged the Chicago Bears at Levi's Stadium in a nail-biter between two NFC contenders.
Next up is a showdown with massive implications: the NFC West title and the NFC's No. 1 playoff seed are on the line as the 49ers face the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.
Both teams enter Week 18 riding six-game win streaks, and the 49ers believe this demanding finish has prepared them for a wide-open NFC playoff picture with no clear favorite.
"You know, people always talk about, hey, this team is battle-tested," general manager John Lynch said Wednesday on Bay Area radio station KNBR. "I think in our division alone this year, a lot of really good football is being played in our division this year. You see the records of three of the teams, and it's been a tough, tough NFC West. I think we're certainly battle-tested.
"We played in every situation. We've gone east, we've stayed at home, we've turned over on short weeks. It's not like we haven't done this before. We've won on Thursday nights, and so we've seen just about every scenario."
If Sunday night's atmosphere at Levi's Stadium is any indication, securing home-field advantage could be crucial to the 49ers' playoff success. Earning the top seed would mean every postseason game—up to and including Super Bowl LX—would be played at home.
Lynch is calling on The Faithful to bring that same energy against the Seahawks.
"Somebody had told me before the game (against Chicago), 'Hey, don't be surprised if there's a lot of Bears presence, maybe 25%,'" Lynch said. "I certainly didn't feel that. I felt The Faithful loud and clear. And the one thing I'll say to the fans: that really matters.
"In crucial situations like that last drive, every second matters. And I think the inability to communicate all the time, that makes the clock tick, tick, tick. And so, ultimately, those things matter. So, bring that same juice and energy, and we'll try to give you reason to have that energy."
With so much at stake—a division title, home-field advantage, and the inside track to the Super Bowl—Saturday night at Levi's Stadium should feel like a playoff game.
"And there's plenty of reason because we're playing for a lot in terms of the NFC West, the number one seed, and there's a lot at stake," Lynch added. "And we do have a great deal of respect for this Seattle team. They've earned that. They're a really good football team."