Tag: NFL Standings

Down year, no playoffs may actually benefit 49ers

Can the 49ers turn an early offseason into a positive for 2025?

After three straight trips to the NFL playoffs, the San Francisco 49ers (6-10) will be on the outside looking in during this postseason.

The 49ers played in Super Bowl LVIII to cap the 2023 season and each of the two postseason trips before that featured San Francisco advancing to the NFC championship game. The 49ers also reached Super Bowl LIV in the 2019 campaign.

Under president of football operations and general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan’s direction, San Francisco has become accustomed to these deep postseason pushes.

With the 49ers set to enter the offseason earlier than expected, San Francisco hopes to turn that disappointment into some fashion of a positive.

“Yeah, I am,” Shanahan said when asked if he is excited about what the offseason will hold for San Francisco. “I’d be much more excited to not have one and to go all the way to February again, but that is tough.”

As Shanahan touched on Friday, missing the playoffs does allow the 49ers to jumpstart their offseason retooling sooner.

“When you go that that long, everyone needs to get away and by the time you come back there’s usually right when free agency’s starting and you’re not totally quite there yet. So, it’s going to be our first time since I think COVID being off in January.

“And it gives you more time to figure things out. It gives you time to go through the things like the cutups and stuff. You can finish most of that stuff all before the Super Bowl. And then you’re ready to go to other stuff like the draft and free agency and all that as soon as the Super Bowl ends,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan hopes an earlier start to the offseason can help the 49ers chart a path that keeps them out of this position in 2025.

“So just being a lot more ahead of that is real exciting and I’m ready to get to it. We’ve known we’re out of the playoffs here for a little bit and everything’s about finishing this year up the right way and not cutting anything short, finishing your job.

“But I also have been able to look to when I can start improving next year and making sure we’re not in this position again. And I know that starts Monday,” Shanahan said.

Lynch joined KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” show on Friday morning where he said that the 49ers’ plans for remedies to what ailed them in 2024 are “well in the works.”

Shanahan said he will fully dive in on the 49ers’ offseason process beginning on Monday.

“Not as much as John would and stuff,” Shanahan said when asked if he’s already begun his offseason process. “I’ve got an idea of stuff. I map out my January and have to answer my wife’s questions and kids and stuff who might think I’m off, but I’m not. So things like that. But as far as fully putting my mind into it and everything that won’t start until really the plane ride back.”

Shanahan also said that he doesn’t anticipate any changes in terms of his input on offseason personnel decisions.

“No, it’s always been the same. It’s always been the same and I still want it to be the same,” Shanahan said.

The 49ers close their 2024 season with a Sunday date at State Farm Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals (7-9). Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT with the game set to air on Fox.

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NFC playoff picture and postseason scenarios entering Week 18

NFC playoff picture and postseason scenarios entering Week 18, including all potential outcomes for the Detroit Lions

One week, 16 games. That’s all that remains in the 2024 regular season. The playoffs are right around the corner the picture is almost complete in the NFC.

We knew even before Monday night’s game that the Lions and Minnesota Vikings would meet in Week 18 under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football and Game 272 to decide the No. 1 seed. It’s the first final-week game to decide a conference’s No. 1 seed since the Cowboys and Giants met at the end of the 1993 season.

The winner finishes 15-2, gets the NFC North, the first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The loser has to go on the road as the No. 5 seed at 14-3, likely to either Tampa Bay or Atlanta but also possibly Los Angeles. We haven’t seen a Wild Card team with this strong of a record since the 1999 Tennessee Titans were 13-3 (the Jaguars won the AFC Central at 14-2). Even then, the Titans still had a home game in the first round, as there were only three divisions in each conference. That game became a little something called the “Music City Miracle,” and the Titans eventually reached Super Bowl XXXIV (beating the Jaguars to win the AFC) before falling one yard short against the Rams.

This time around, the stakes are even higher. We’re talking about the possibility of a 14-3 team going on the road against a team 10-7 or even 9-8 if Atlanta steals the division. Detroit will be rocking Sunday night.

As far as the rest of the playoff picture is concerned, here’s a quick breakdown.

The Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) clinched the NFC East with a 41-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed for the NFC playoffs and will host either the Washington Commanders (11-5) or Green Bay Packers (11-5) in the first round.

The Los Angeles Rams secured the NFC West title thanks to the Commanders’ wild overtime win Sunday night against the Falcons. The division came down to the strength of victory tiebreaker to secure the division title for the Rams. L.A. sits as the No. 3 seed and will secure that spot with a win against the Seahawks or a Buccaneers loss against the Saints on Sunday.

The Buccaneers (9-7) took back control of the NFC South because of that Falcons loss and now just need to beat the Saints on Sunday to secure their fourth straight division title. However, a loss opens the door for the Falcons (8-8) if they defeat the Panthers. The Buccaneers can jump the Rams for the No. 3 seed; the Falcons can only be the No. 4 seed.

Washington is in control of the No. 6 seed by virtue of a better conference record than the Packers (8-3 vs. 6-5). Washington locks up the No. 6 seed with a win over the Cowboys or a Packers loss against the Bears. If Green Bay wins and Washington loses, the Packers move up to No. 6 and the Commanders fall to No. 7.

NFC Playoff Standings

1. x-Detroit Lions 14-2
2. y-Philadelphia Eagles 13-3
3. y-Los Angeles Rams 10-6
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7
5. x-Minnesota Vikings 14-2
6. x-Washington Commanders 11-5
7. x-Green Bay Packers 11-5

In the hunt:

8. Atlanta Falcons 8-8

49ers 2025 schedule: Projected opponents after Week 16

The 49ers schedule might be much easier next year.

The 2024 season has been ugly for the San Francisco 49ers, and a brutal schedule hasn’t helped.

Their .549 opponent winning percentage is tied for the highest mark in the NFC, and the second-highest mark in the NFL. Only the Las Vegas Raiders (.551) have had a more difficult schedule.

With Week 16 in the books, we can project the 49ers’ 2025 schedule which looks on paper to be a much easier road than their 2024 slate.

If the 49ers finish in last place, they’ll host the last place team in the NFC North, and visit the last place clubs in the NFC East and AFC North.  They’ll also face all four teams from the NFC and AFC South.

Here is their list of projected opponents after Week 16’s results:

Home

Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks
Atlanta Falcons 
Carolina Panthers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
Chicago Bears (NFC North last place)

Road

Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
New York Giants (NFC East last place)
Cleveland Browns (AFC North last place)

We’ll have an eye on the NFL draft order down the stretch, but it’ll also be worth watching the division standings to see if San Francisco will go into 2025 with a much easier schedule than they did this year.

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Seahawks are on the verge of elimination this week

Seahawks are on the verge of elimination this week

Squandered opportunity is a regrettable theme of the 2024 Seattle Seahawks, who let another prime opportunity pass them by. Seattle fell at home to the Minnesota Vikings 27-24, and like the Packers loss the week prior, this was more than just simply dropping a game.

The Packers made it so the Seahawks were forced from first place in the NFC West. The Vikings have now stolen destiny away from them. At 8-7, the Seahawks no longer control their own fate, even if they win out these next two games – including Week 18 versus the Rams.

With the Rams improving to 9-6 with their 19-9 win over the New York Jets, Los Angeles can officially clinch the NFC West with a win against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, December 28th. Had the Jets found a way to beat the Rams, it would have bought the Seahawks another week (provided they defeat the Chicago Bears on Thursday). But then again, if you are in a situation where you’re hoping for the New York Jets to win a game, then you are already in a dire predicament.

If the Rams prevail at home against the Arizona Cardinals (who were eliminated on Sunday, but did defeat LA 41-10 in Week 2) then that’s all, folks. Los Angeles wins the NFC West for the fourth time in the last seven seasons. Should they lose, and the Seahawks beat the Bears on Thursday, then it will set up a division championship game in Week 18.

There is a scenario in which Seattle could lose on Thursday and it still sets up a Week 18 winner-take-all game, but even that scenario relies heavily upon the Rams losing to the Cardinals.

Of course, blowing a game like they did to the Vikings has put a serious dampener on this season. Not to mention the loss to the New York Giants in Week 5, which has loomed like cement weights tied to the Seahawks’ feet.

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Seahawks lose 27-24 to the Vikings as playoff chances slip further away

Seahawks lose 27-24 to the Vikings as playoff chances slip further away

The Seattle Seahawks faced a critical showdown against the Minnesota Vikings to conclude their final regular season game at home, and what a fireworks show it was. Whenever these teams play each other in this venue, fans are almost always going to get their money’s worth of entertainment to say the least. Regrettably, the conclusion was not one the 12th Man wanted. The Vikings were favored by three going into this game, and that was the margin of victory.

Seattle got the ball to start the third quarter and took advantage of their opening drive with another successful Jason Myers field goal. Myers helped tie the game at 17-17. Minnesota immediately reclaimed the lead with a field goal drive of their own, however they had to settle for a field goal thanks to Jarran Reed tipping Sam Darnold’s pass on third down incomplete.

From there, the Seahawks and Vikings exchanged two consecutive punt drives each. Seattle finally managed to get something truly special going in the second half with an impressive 11-play, 83-yard scoring drive. The Seahawks overcame 15 penalty yards, and ended it with Geno Smith finding rookie tight end AJ Barner in the back of the end zone for a rather athletic touchdown. Seattle was finally up 24-20.

Sadly, the Seahawks lost the lead as quickly as they earned it. Sam Darnold drove the Vikings 60 yards in only four plays – aided by an unfortunately timed facemask penalty on Byron Murphy II, who had Darnold sacked. Darnold connected with Justin Jefferson for a 39-yard strike to take a 27-24 lead with 3:51 left in the game.

On their responding drive, Seattle made it all the way to to Minnesota’s 37-yard line before Geno Smith was sacked. Two plays later, the Seahawks were facing a daunting 4th-and-15 to come out of the two-minute warning. Seattle elected to attempt a 60-yard field goal, which was well short of success. Minnesota took over at the 50-yard line, with Seattle only able to stop the clock twice.

The Seahawks did manage to get a stop and get the ball back with 61 seconds left, but the comeback attempt was short lived. A false start penalty on Abe Lucas knocked Seattle back to the 12-yard line, and one play later, it was over on a Geno Smith desperation pass that was picked off.

A lump of coal has been delivered to Seattle’s playoff hopes.

The Seahawks will have little time to rest, as they are back on the road for a Thursday Night Football showdown in the Windy City against the Chicago Bears. Seattle’s chances of making the postseason went from slim to grim, as their destiny is no longer in their control. If they win their next two games, but the Rams win next week to ensure both teams finish with identical records, Los Angeles will still win the NFC West and block Seattle from making the playoffs.

The Seahawks will need to find a way to win in Chicago, and hope the Arizona Cardinals (who were eliminated from postseason contention) feel like playing spoilers and upset the Rams. Otherwise, everyone on the team will be watching the playoffs where they did last year: at home on their couches.

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Steelers fall two spots in NFL’s latest power rankings

The Pittsburgh Steelers drop in the NFL power rankings despite injuries, but their overall strength remains undeniable in 2024.

Oh, how the Black and Gold have fallen—or have they? Following the completion of Week 15’s games, recent NFL power rankings suggest so. Heading into their matchup with the Eagles, the Steelers were ranked sixth in the entire NFL, third among all AFC teams.

However, the Steelers’ loss to the Eagles spelled disaster for their ranking, dropping them two spots to eighth, now one behind the Baltimore Ravens.

Currently, the top five teams in the NFL Network’s rendition of the post-Week 15 power rankings are as follows: the Philadelphia Eagles, the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Detroit Lions, and the Minnesota Vikings.

Several high-level teams made little to no change at all—the Vikings holding steady at fifth, and the Chiefs remaining at third. It’s not hard to argue that the Steelers should have been included among these teams.

The Steelers’ loss to the Eagles was not indicative of the team’s overall strength in 2024, as Pittsburgh was grappling with several short-term injuries at the time.

As Week 18’s regular season finale draws ever closer, power rankings from multiple sports outlets will have no choice but to acknowledge the true capabilities of the Steelers.

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Where do the Steelers stand in the crowded AFC playoff race?

The AFC playoff picture is tightening as the Pittsburgh Steelers secure their spot, with seeding battles heating up among top contenders.

Steelers fans rejoice! Although the matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles left much to be desired for the Black and Gold faithful, the Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a playoff spot following losses by the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15. However, the playoff race remains extremely tight, with the Steelers currently holding the number three seed in the AFC.

The AFC playoff standings are beginning to take shape. The 13-1 Kansas City Chiefs hold the number one seed, followed by the other AFC divisional leaders: the 11-3 Buffalo Bills, the 10-4 Pittsburgh Steelers, and the 9-5 Houston Texans.

After the divisional leaders, seeded one through four, the AFC wild-card teams are as follows: the fifth-seeded 9-5 Baltimore Ravens, the sixth-seeded 9-5 Denver Broncos, and the seventh-seeded 8-6 Los Angeles Chargers.

Currently in the hunt are three AFC teams locked in a three-way tie, with identical 6-8 records: the Indianapolis Colts, the Miami Dolphins, and the Cincinnati Bengals.

An intriguing aspect of the playoff race is that, if the season ended today, the 10-4 Pittsburgh Steelers would host the 9-5 Denver Broncos in the wild-card round.  Furthermore, the Steelers can also secure the AFC North divisional title with a win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16.

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49ers dreary season summed up by place in NFL power rankings

The 49ers are in an embarrassing spot in the USA TODAY NFL power rankings.

The San Francisco 49ers’ rough 2024 season can be perfectly summed up by where they landed in the post-Week 15 NFL power rankings from USA TODAY.

While power rankings don’t hold weight in terms of a team winning a Super Bowl, they give a good snapshot of how a team looks from the 30,000-foot, national perspective.

USA TODAY dropped the 49ers to No. 19 overall in the rankings, which is a fine spot for a 6-8 team that is 1-4 in its division. It’s who’s around San Francisco that really drives home where their various stumbles this season have left them in the NFL pecking order.

Just ahead of the 49ers at No. 18 are the Atlanta Falcons – losers of four in a row before somehow sneaking past the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday to cap Week 15.

Just behind the 49ers at No. 20 are the Dallas Cowboys – a laughingstock that is now tied with San Francisco in the standings.

The Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots are the three teams just behind Dallas, signaling the realm the 49ers could fall into with another bad loss or two in their final three games.

As for the rest of the NFC West, they’re all way in front of San Francisco. The Arizona Cardinals are at No. 15, one spot behind the No. 14 Seattle Seahawks. The division-leading Los Angeles Rams are at No. 9.

In a year where the division was imminently winnable, instead of sitting way above the rest of the NFC West, San Francisco is looking up at them while slumming it with the Cowboys and Falcons.

Ouch.

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Seahawks fighting for their playoff lives as Vikings look to win NFC North

Seahawks fighting for their playoff lives as Vikings look to win NFC North

The Seattle Seahawks suffered a costly defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Seattle was knocked from both their perch atop the NFC West (as the Los Angeles Rams have now taken over due to their head-to-head victory earlier this year) and out of the NFC playoff picture entirely. The Seahawks’ postseason odds plummeted after the blowout loss in prime time.

Seattle’s path forward does not get any easier, as the now 12-2 Minnesota Vikings are coming to town this weekend. The Seahawks’ backs are against the wall and are desperate for a win, but unfortunately for them, the Vikings have plenty to play for as well.

Thanks to the Detroit Lions losing 48-42 to the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota now controls their own destiny for both winning the NFC North… and even earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Yes, that’s right. The Minnesota Vikings with Sam Darnold at quarterback could have a first round bye in the playoffs. Should the Vikes beat the Hawks on Sunday, as well as winning against the Packers in Week 17 (Minnesota won in Lambeau earlier this year) and defeat the Lions in Week 18, they will be the No. 1 seed. Even if the Philadelphia Eagles also finish 15-2, the Vikings still edge them out.

So yeah, the Seahawks won’t be catching any kind of “break” from an opponent who doesn’t necessarily “need” a win this weekend. Seattle will be getting the best Minnesota has to offer, because the Vikings know how difficult the next two weeks will also be for them.

The Seahawks better hope quarterback Geno Smith’s optimism for being able to play this weekend isn’t misplaced.

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Why Rams-Cardinals in Week 17 may be more important than finale vs. Seahawks

So much of the attention is on Rams-Seahawks in Week 18, but Los Angeles’ game against Arizona the week prior might be more important

There are only three weeks left in the regular season and although the Los Angeles Rams aren’t overlooking the 4-10 New York Jets in Week 16, their final two games are far more important.

That’s because both of those games are against the two teams chasing the Rams for the NFC West title. Even if the Rams lose to the Jets on Sunday afternoon, they’re a lock to still make the playoffs if they beat the Cardinals and Seahawks in Weeks 17 and 18.

While most people are focused on the finale between the Rams and Seahawks, Los Angeles’ Week 17 showdown against the Cardinals might be even more important despite Arizona being a game back of the Rams in the NFC West right now.

Consider this scenario, for example. If the Rams beat the Jets, the Cardinals beat the Panthers and the Vikings beat the Seahawks, Week 17 will have a much greater impact on the Rams’ playoff odds than the finale against Seattle. That’s because Arizona has already beaten the Rams, so it holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

In that scenario, the Rams will have a 99% chance of making the playoffs if they beat the Cardinals in Week 17 and a 38% chance if they lose, according to the New York Times. That’s a huge swing, much greater than the difference between beating the Seahawks (88% chance) and losing to them (72% chance).

That’s all contingent on the Rams, Cardinals and Vikings all winning in Week 16, as they’re projected to based on the betting odds. If Arizona loses to Carolina and the Rams beat the Jets, Los Angeles will have a 99% chance to make the playoffs if it simply wins one of its final two games.

There are a number of different scenarios that could play out, but if there are no upsets this week, Rams-Cardinals will almost be a playoff game – particularly for Arizona, which is one game back of Los Angeles and Seattle.

The Rams don’t want to enter the final week of the season needing a win over the Seahawks and a loss by the Cardinals to a 49ers team with nothing to play for, which is exactly how things could play out if they lose to Arizona in Week 17.

Win that game against Arizona and there’s a good chance they’ll get into the dance.