Season is now 2 weeks long

The playoffs have effectively started for the 49ers. Their loss against the Falcons eliminated their margin for error going into their Week 16 matchup with the Rams. San Francisco has to win their next two to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. That bye week effectively counts as a win since they’d move straight to the divisional round, and get a home game that week. If they don’t get the first-round bye, they would go on the road three times in order to reach the Super Bowl. Sunday’s loss was bad, but the 49ers’ fate is still in their own hands.