Tag: NFC Standings

49ers win over Seahawks puts them in 1st place NFC West

The San Francisco 49ers are your new division leader.

What a difference a win makes!

The San Francisco 49ers were in an apparent spiral entering their game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night. They’d lost three straight, including two to division opponents where San Francisco held 10-point leads in the fourth quarter, and they sat at 14th out of 16 in the NFC standings.

A win was a necessity at Lumen Field, and the 49ers came through even with some bumps in the road.

While San Francisco needed a win for some stability early in this season, they also had an opportunity to leap into the playoff picture by overtaking the Seahawks in the NFC West.

The 49ers’ 36-24 victory over Seattle launched them into a tie with the Seahawks at 3-3 overall, but placed San Francisco at No. 1 in the division by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker they now hold over the Seahawks.

Here’s what the standings look like entering Sunday:

1. 49ers (3-3)
2. Seahawks (3-3)
3. Cardinals (2-3)
4. Rams (1-4)

It’s still too early to start schedule-watching, but the 49ers’ margin for error is slim enough that any ground they can make up in the race for a playoff berth is significant.

The Cardinals do play the Packers on Sunday in Green Bay. A win by them would push the 49ers down to second in the standings. A loss would ensure San Francisco holds the NFC West lead heading into Week 7.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NFC standings: Week 6 vs. Seahawks is virtual ‘must win’ for 49ers

Week 6 is basically a must-win for the 49ers, and the standings show why.

The NFL standings don’t generally matter much after five weeks.

In an 18-week season injuries are prevalent, trades happen, and teams either hit their stride or fall off throughout the year, and the picture painted with the final standings rarely reflects what we see after a sample size of five games.

On the other hand, this year’s standings in the NFC put into perspective just how poorly the San Francisco 49ers’ season has gone, and the climb they have to get back into the postseason picture.

San Francisco after five weeks is sitting at No. 14 out of 16 NFC teams. The only teams behind them are the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers. Both of those teams are 1-4, and the Rams’ lone win came against the 49ers at SoFi Stadium in Week 3.

It’s been an abject disaster to start the year for the 49ers, and while the standings paint a bleak picture now, there are some silver linings.

Typically under Kyle Shanahan the 49ers have played their best football in November, December and January. They’re one of five NFC teams with two wins, and a win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night would put them atop the NFC West and into the No. 4 seed in the standings. That fact is why there’s no reason to hit the panic button just yet.

On the other hand, a loss to Seattle might be reason to panic. Dropping to 2-4 overall, 0-4 in the conference and 0-3 in the division with games against the undefeated Chiefs and the 3-2 Cowboys looming would put the 49ers in a bind that virtually eliminated their margin for error while they simultaneously try and right a rapidly sinking ship.

The standings through five weeks don’t tell the story of the entire season, but they paint a pretty clear picture of what’s at stake for the 49ers when they visit Seattle on Thursday.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NFC Playoff Picture: Updated standings after Week 10

Here’s what the NFC playoff race looks like right now.

The Seattle Seahawks squeaked out a win against the Washington Commanders this past week, giving a massive boost to their odds of making the playoffs. The win puts their chances at 82%, wheres a loss would have dropped them to 52%. While the schedule is about to get a whole lot tougher, it would now come as a surprise if Seattle did not make the postseason this year. Let’s see where they are compared to the rest of the conference.

Here’s what the NFC playoff race looks like right now.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)

2. Detroit Lions (7-2)

3. San Francisco 49ers (6-3)

4. New Orleans Saints (5-5)

5. Seattle Seahawks (6-3)

6. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

7. Minnesota Vikings (6-4)

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)

9. Washington Commanders (4-6)

10. Atlanta Falcons (4-6)

11. Green Bay Packers (3-6)

12. Los Angeles Rams (3-6)

13. Chicago Bears (3-7)

14. New York Giants (2-8)

15. Arizona Cardinals (2-8)

16. Carolina Panthers (1-8)

More Seahawks Wire stories

Bobby Wagner leads team in snap counts going into Week 11

Ranking the last 8 games on Seattle’s schedule from easiest-hardest

Ranking all 32 starting NFL QBs by success rate going into Week 11

Where 49ers stack up in NFC playoff picture coming out of bye week

Reset! Here’s where the #49ers sit in the NFC playoff picture heading into Week 10.

The bye week was kind to the 49ers in their quest to secure at least one home playoff game this postseason. San Francisco jumped from the No. 6 seed up to the No. 3 spot after the Seahawks’ loss to the Ravens.

While an Eagles victory only put the No. 1 seed further out of reach, the 49ers are in a good spot to make a push for that top spot entering the second half of the year. Here’s what the NFC playoff picture looks like moving into Week 10:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)
2. Detroit Lions (6-2)
3. San Francisco 49ers (5-3)
4. New Orleans Saints (5-4)
5. Seattle Seahawks (5-3)
6. Dallas Cowboys (5-3)
7. Minnesota Vikings (5-4)

8. Washington Commanders (4-5)
9. Atlanta Falcons (4-5)

The good news for the 49ers is they face the Seahawks twice down the stretch. That puts their destiny in their own hands where they could effectively wrap up the division by knocking off Seattle in both contests if they enter the game with the same record. Winning the division secures at least a top-four seed.

If San Francisco does find itself battling for one of the final three seeds, they have a tiebreaker over the Cowboys which could prove helpful.

Ideally for the 49ers though, they’re not going to be in the weeds of the 5-7 seeds. They’re constructed to win a division and fight for the No. 1 seed where they’d secure a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the postseason.

They’re two games back of the Eagles, but they have a game in Philadelphia in Week 13 that could pull them to within one and give them the head-to-head tiebreaker. That Eagles game will be crucial, but only if the 49ers right their once mighty ship that’s now threatening to capsize.

If they can do that, the hunt for the top seed in the NFC with Detroit and Philadelphia is on. If they stumble out of the gate though, the focus will turn to just surviving to hold onto the division and a home playoff game.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NFC Playoff Race: Seahawks in line for No. 4 seed going into Week 8

All of the sudden the NFC playoff picture looks much more wide open than it did at the beginning of the season.

Brock Purdy has imploded earlier than we expected, which has been a major factor in the 49ers losing two games in a row. All of the sudden the NFC playoff picture looks much more wide open than it did at the beginning of the season. Despite an ongoing rash of injuries to key players, the Seahawks look stronger than they have been since the 2015 season thanks to a resurgent defense.

Let’s see where all 16 teams stand after Week 7’s games. Here’s what the NFC standings look like heading into Week 8.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (6-1)

2. Detroit Lions (5-2)

3. San Francisco 49ers (5-2)

4. Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

5. Dallas Cowboys (4-2)

6. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)

8. Minnesota Vikings (3-4)

9. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)

10. Washington Commanders (3-4)

11. New Orleans Saints (3-4)

12. Green Bay Packers (2-4)

13. New York Giants (2-5)

14. Chicago Bears (2-5)

15. Arizona Cardinals (1-6)

16. Carolina Panthers (0-6)

More Seahawks Wire stories

3 EDGE targets for Seattle at the 2023 NFL trade deadline

3 free agent corners worked out for the Seahawks Tuesday

NFC standings: 49ers fall to 3rd place in conference after loss to Vikings

Here’s where the #49ers now sit in the NFC standings after Monday’s loss:

The 49ers only had a decent Sunday had they taken care of business Monday in Minnesota. Instead they fell 22-17 to the Vikings and gave themselves an uphill climb back to the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Here’s what the updated standings look like now that the dust has settled on Week 7:

1. Eagles (6-1)
2. Lions (5-2)
3. 49ers (5-2)
4. Falcons (4-3)
5. Seahawks (4-2)
6. Cowboys (4-2)
7. Buccaneers (3-3)

San Francisco was always going to drop in the standings after Philadelphia beat the previously 5-1 Dolphins. The tiebreaker at the top would’ve come down to strength of victory and Philly’s is now very good thanks to a huge win over a good team.

Losing to Minnesota put the 49ers in a tie with the Lions for the No. 2 seed, but Detroit holds that tiebreaker over San Francisco. Since those clubs don’t have a head-to-head matchup or common opponents and their conference records are the same, the tiebreaker goes to strength of victory.

The teams Detroit beat have a combined win percentage of .469, while San Francisco’s wins have been against teams with a combined .424 win percentage.

There’s a lot of football to go, but the climb just became much steeper for the 49ers if they’re still going to get the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Eagles win over Dolphins puts pressure on 49ers to keep pace in NFC

With Philadelphia’s win over the Dolphins, the #49ers are now looking up at the Eagles in the NFC standings heading into Monday night.

The 49ers now have a little work to do when they visit the Vikings on Monday night. The Philadelphia Eagles’ 31-17 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football put the pressure on San Francisco to keep pace in the race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

With their victory Philadelphia became the first NFC team to reach the 6-1 mark. The 49ers are 5-1 ahead of their Monday night game vs. the Vikings. The Lions entered Week 7 at 5-1, but lost 38-6 in Baltimore on Sunday to fall to 5-2.

For San Francisco their margin for error is nil. Philadelphia appears to be rolling now after their over Miami on Sunday night, so falling a game behind them would make the climb back to the top seed even more difficult.

Overall Sunday wasn’t bad for the 49ers. The Lions loss was key to move one team back in the hunt for the NFC crown, and the Rams loss to the Steelers put them effectively out of the division race. Seattle won to keep pace in the NFC West though and the Eagles’ victory has them looking like the class of the conference again.

San Francisco can soften the blows of Philadelphia and Seattle winning by taking care of business in Minnesota, but the pressure is certainly ratcheted up now following Sunday’s action.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

1 of 2 teams tied with 49ers atop NFC loses early in Week 7

Some good early news for the #49ers among the Week 7 scores.

Week 7’s early slate featured a key game for the 49ers. The Detroit Lions, one of the two teams tied with the 49ers atop the NFC,  were in Baltimore to take on the Ravens.

The Lions entered Week 7 on a four-game win streak that pulled them even with the 49ers and Eagles after both of those clubs lost in Week 6. Detroit didn’t extend its streak to five wins and got thumped 38-6 by the Ravens.

Baltimore jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead an dnever looked back. QB Lamar Jackson looked like his MVP self with 357 passing yards and three touchdown passes while completing 21-of-27 attempts. Jackson also rushed for 36 yards and a touchdown.

A Lions loss was one of four things the 49ers wanted to see Sunday while they’re awaiting their Monday night game. It was the only game of the four in the morning slate.

Given what’s at stake though a Detroit loss was one of the two most important outcomes for San Francisco. That pushes them down in the hunt for the No. 1 seed int he NFC. An Eagles loss to the Dolphins on Sunday Night Football would also be a key outcome for the 49ers.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NFC Playoff race update after Week 6: Seahawks drop one spot

Here are the updated NFC standings after Week 6’s games.

The Seahawks lost a close game against the Bengals on Sunday. Fortunately, it only cost them one spot in the NFC playoff race, dropping them from being in line for the fifth seed to the sixth.

Here are the updated NFC standings after Week 6’s games.

1. San Francisco 49ers (5-1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)

3. Detroit Lions (5-1)

4. Dallas Cowboys (4-2)

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

6. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)

7. Los Angeles Rams (3-3)

8. Washington Commanders (3-3)

9. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)

10. New Orleans Saints (3-3)

11. Green Bay Packers (2-3)

12. Minnesota Vikings (2-4)

13. Chicago Bears (1-5)

14. New York Giants (1-5)

15. Arizona Cardinals (1-5)

16. Carolina Panthers (0-6)

More Seahawks Wire stories

NFL power rankings going into Week 7

Ranking all 32 QBs by passer rating

NFC standings: 49ers still No. 1 despite Week 6 loss

There’s a 3-way tie atop the NFC standings, but the #49ers still sit at No.1.

The 49ers suffered their first defeat of the year in Week 6, but they didn’t lose their spot atop the NFC standings thanks to the New York Jets. Robert Saleh’s Jets squad knocked off the Eagles 20-14 and removed Philadelphia from the undefeated ranks shortly after the Browns handed San Francisco its first loss of the year.

Losses by the 49ers and Eagles, combined with the Lions’ fourth consecutive victory, leaves three 5-1 teams in the NFC through six weeks.

Here’s what the standings look like one third of the way through the year:

1. 49ers (5-1)
2. Eagles (5-1)
3. Lions (5-1)
4. Buccaneers (3-2)
5. Cowboys (4-2)
6. Seahawks (3-2)
7. Rams (3-3)

The Lions sit at the No. 3 spot because of their conference record. They lost to the Seahawks in Week 2 while the 49ers and Eagles both suffered losses vs. AFC clubs in Week 6.

San Francisco edges out Philly for the top spot thanks to their strength of schedule. 49ers opponents have a combined winning percentage of .441, while Eagles opponents sit with a .429 combined winning percentage.

With no head-to-head matchup yet, no difference in common opponents and identical division records, the tiebreaker would move to strength of victory, which is the combined winning percentage of the teams the 49ers and Eagles have beaten. Since they both have .414 strength of victories, the tiebreak moves on to strength of schedule where the 49ers have a superior mark through six weeks.

This could be a fascinating race down the stretch. Detroit is very good and certainly capable of stealing the No. 1 seed in what appeared before the season to be a two-team race. They won’t face the 49ers or Eagles though, so the tiebreakers could get messy. San Francisco and Philadelphia square off in Week 13 in what could ostensibly become an elimination game in the hunt for the No. 1 seed.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]