The 49ers’ brief stint as the NFC’s No. 5 seed lasted exactly one week. They’re back atop the conference after beating the Saints 48-46 in New Orleans to move to 11-2. They passed the Seahawks, who fell to the Rams 28-12 Sunday night in Los Angeles.
Here’s an updated look at the NFC playoff picture after Sunday’s action:
1. 49ers (11-2)
2. Packers (10-3)
3. Saints (10-3)
4. Cowboys (6-7)
5. Seahawks (10-3)
6. Vikings (9-4)
The Rams stayed in the thick of the playoff hunt after moving to 8-5 on the year with their win. They also thwarted the 49ers’ chance to wrap up a playoff spot, but now San Francisco can snag that at home Sunday vs. the Falcons.
San Francisco now controls its own destiny and holds head-to-head tiebreakers over the Packers and Saints.
The 49ers host the Falcons in Week 15, the Rams in Week 16, and then travel to Seattle for a Week 17 game that will very likely decide the division barring any catastrophic slip ups by either team.
If San Francisco pulls out the division, they’re more than likely going to be the NFC’s top seed and secure a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs thanks to tiebreakers. That makes their final three games all the more important.