The San Francisco 49ers controlled their own fate heading into their Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. A win would have secured the NFC West title and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Instead, a 13-3 loss flipped the postseason picture.
Seattle now claims the NFC's No. 1 seed, while the 49ers are headed on the road for the Wild Card round as either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed—two paths with very different implications.
Tight end George Kittle made it clear Saturday night that he'll be rooting for the Arizona Cardinals in their Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. A Cardinals win would make the 49ers the No. 5 seed, while a Rams victory would drop San Francisco to third place in the NFC West and lock them into the No. 6 seed.
George Kittle is not hiding the fact that he's rooting for the Cardinals vs the Rams. That would give the #49ers the 5-seed and a date against the NFC South. pic.twitter.com/FBY9d19rya
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) January 4, 2026
On paper, the fifth seed offers a more favorable route to the Divisional Round. In that scenario, the 49ers would travel to face the NFC South champion—either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Carolina Panthers. San Francisco has already seen both teams this season, falling to Tampa Bay in Week 6 but defeating Carolina in Week 12.
Landing the sixth seed would set up a tougher road matchup against either the Chicago Bears or the Philadelphia Eagles. The 49ers edged the Bears 42-38 in a Week 17 thriller and have not faced the Eagles this season. Either matchup would present a steeper climb to advance.
The final seeding hinges on several Sunday afternoon games. The Rams face the Cardinals, while the Bears host the Detroit Lions, and the Eagles take on the Washington Commanders.
A Rams and Bears win (or Bears and Eagles loss) would send the 49ers to Philadelphia. If the Rams and Eagles win—and the Bears lose—San Francisco would head to Chicago.
If the Rams lose or tie and the Atlanta Falcons defeat the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers would travel to Carolina. A Rams loss or tie, combined with a Falcons loss or tie, would send San Francisco to Tampa Bay.
With so many variables in play, all eyes will be on Sunday as the NFC playoff bracket comes into focus.
As Kittle summed it up after Saturday's loss, "I'm looking forward to whoever we play. Let's go, Budda and Trey McBride."