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The 49ers seem determined not to fall back below the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff race. They skated to a 31-13 win over the Falcons on Sunday to move to 8-6 and maintain their place in the postseason pecking order. There was other movement in the NFC playoff picture though with potentially more to come with games slated for Monday and Tuesday.
After Sunday’s games though this is what the NFC playoff picture looks like:
1. Packers (11-3)
2. Cowboys (10-4)
3. Buccaneers (10-4)
4. Cardinals (10-4)
5. Rams (9-4)
6. 49ers (8-6)
7. Saints (7-7)
8. Washington (6-7)
9. Vikings (6-7)
10. Eagles (6-7)
Losses by the Cardinals and Buccaneers led to movement at the top with the Packers grabbing the No. 1 seed, the Cowboys jumping up to No. 2 and the Bucs and Cardinals both falling.
In the wild card race the Saints got a win vs. Tampa Bay that vaulted them to 7-7 and above Washington, Minnesota and Philadelphia for now. Washington and Philly play Tuesday afternoon. The Rams will host the Seahawks on Tuesday as well.
That Rams-Seahawks game will be interesting for San Francisco because a Los Angeles loss means the 49ers would be just one game back of the No. 5 seed.
One thing that jumps out though is 9-8 is looking more and more like the necessary record for a playoff spot. The 49ers need just one win in their final three games to reach that mark, and they hold tiebreakers over two of the four teams behind them thanks to their wins over the Eagles and Vikings.
The best news for San Francisco moving forward is they control their own destiny. What happens behind them doesn’t matter as long as they keep on winning.
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