Tag: NFL Standings

NFC playoff standings: Potential tiebreaker not in 49ers favor

Updated NFC playoff standings: The #49ers want to avoid landing in a playoff tiebreaker scenario at all costs.

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The 49ers can still get into the playoffs if they lose to the Rams, but they’ll need some help from the Atlanta Falcons to avoid a tiebreaker scenario that leaves San Francisco on the outside of the playoff picture.

Before diving into the scenarios for Sunday, here’s what the NFC playoff standings look like going into the final week:

1. Packers (13-3)
2. Rams (12-4)
3. Buccaneers (12-4)
4. Cowboys (11-5)
5. Cardinals (11-5)
6. 49ers (9-7)
7. Eagles (9-7)

8. Saints (8-8)

The 49ers are the only team inside the playoff picture, including the Eagles, that hasn’t clinched yet.

It’s pretty simple for the 49ers. They clinch the No. 6 seed with a win over the Rams. They also clinch a playoff spot if the Saints lose to the Falcons.

Things get hairy if the 49ers lose and the Saints win in Atlanta.

In any scenario where they tie with New Orleans, the tiebreaker skips over head-to-head and goes directly to conference record since they didn’t face each other in the 2021 regular season.

A 49ers loss would put them at 9-8 overall with a 6-6 record in the NFC. The Saints by winning would go to 9-8 overall with a 7-5 record in the NFC, lifting them into the 49ers’ playoff spot and leaving San Francisco out of the postseason for a second-consecutive year.

This same scenario goes for a three-way tie where the 49ers and Eagles lose and the Saints win. San Francisco’s head-to-head tiebreak over Philadelphia goes by the wayside because the trio of teams didn’t all face each other. In that case, the Eagles and Saints would both have 7-5 conference records while the 49ers sat at 6-6.

The good news for San Francisco is despite the nightmare tiebreak situations, they still control their own destiny. If they beat the Rams they’re in with no tiebreakers necessary. That’s what’ll matter most come Sunday.

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Panthers loss to Saints keeps 49ers from clinching playoff berth in Week 17

The #49ers didn’t clinch a playoff spot Sunday since the Panthers couldn’t swing an upset over the Saints.

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The 49ers did their part Sunday. They beat the Texans 23-7 to put themselves in line to clinch one of the final two playoff spots available in the NFC. All they needed was the Panthers to upset the Saints in New Orleans. Carolina couldn’t take care of business.

While the Panthers jumped out to a 10-3 second-quarter lead, the Saints started chipping away with four field goals to make it 12-10 by the end of the third quarter. They tacked on a touchdown for good measure and their defense got a stop to secure an 18-10 win.

While the 49ers didn’t clinch Sunday, they still control their own destiny going into the final week of the year. If they beat the Rams in Los Angeles, they’re in the playoffs. If they lose, they’ll need a little bit of help.

On the bright side, it would’ve been a disaster had San Francisco lost to Houston. Then they’d not control their own destiny and they’d need a win with help to clinch in Week 18.

The 49ers and Rams are set to kick off from SoFi Stadium on Sunday at 1:25 pm PT.

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49ers have two playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 17

Here are the two ways the #49ers can clinch a playoff spot this week.

The 49ers got a little help in Week 16 when the Dolphins knocked off the Saints. That loss for New Orleans puts San Francisco in a position to clinch a playoff spot this week with two scenarios.

Their first clinching scenario is very simple. They need to beat Houston, and the Saints need a loss or tie vs. the Carolina Panthers.

Then there’s the more convoluted scenario where the 49ers and Texans tie. In that case San Francisco can clinch with a Vikings loss or tie vs. the Packers, a Saints loss to the Panthers, and a Falcons loss or tie vs. the Bills.

Overall the 49ers can win their next two games and get in regardless of what the teams around them do. It’d be ideal for them though to get it done as soon as possible to take some of the pressure off in Week 18 when they visit the Rams.

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Here’s how the Chargers can clinch playoff berth

While the chances are much slimmer following the loss to the Texans, the playoffs are still within reach for the Chargers.

Heading into Week 16, the Chargers were in complete control of their playoff destiny. Win each of their three remaining games, and they’re in.

However, in the most unexpected manner, they lost to a Texans team that ranked near the bottom in nearly every statistical category and were without 16 active-roster players.

Now 8-7, Los Angeles can no longer determine its fate and must hope for outcomes of games to specific teams that are also in the playoff hunt.

According to ESPN’s Power Index, L.A. now has a 38.5% chance of making the playoffs after having a 77% chance a little over 24 hours ago.

To play beyond the regular season, here’s what must happen for the Chargers:

– Beat their final two opponents, the Broncos (7-8) and Raiders (8-7).

– The Ravens (8-7) lose at least one of their final two games: Rams (10-5) or Steelers (7-7-1).

* Baltimore owns the tiebreaker over Los Angeles based on head-to-head win percentage.

– The Dolphins (7-7) lose at least one of their final three games: Saints (7-7), Titans (10-5), or Patriots (10-5).

* Miami owns the tiebreaker over L.A. based on best win percentage in common games.

The playoffs are still well within reach, but if the Chargers can’t make any adjustments from yesterday’s game, no matter who’s on the field, the only thing that will be in sight for them is the offseason.

Division officially out of reach for Chargers

For the sixth-straight season, the Chiefs are AFC West champions.

For the sixth-straight season, the Chiefs are AFC West champions following their win over the Steelers and the Chargers’ loss to the Texans in Week 16.

There was still a chance Los Angeles could have won the division, even after falling to Kansas City in Week 15. That would’ve required winning out and the Chiefs losing at least two, including one to the Broncos in the final week.

While being crowned AFC West champs was a slim possibility, the Bolts would have been able to cruise their way into the playoffs by simply beating each of the remaining opponents on their schedule.

But after the upset loss to Houston, the Chargers need to win their final two games against the Broncos and Raiders and get help from others facing the few AFC teams that are also in the hunt.

Entering Week 16, the Bolts had a 71% chance of making the playoffs. Now, that number has dropped to 33%.

Rams win over Vikings helps 49ers in playoff race

The #49ers got some help in the playoff hunt from a division rival.

The 49ers sat idle Sunday following their Thursday night loss to the Titans. While San Francisco couldn’t help their playoff chances on the field, the Rams’ 30-23 win over the Vikings in Minnesota benefitted the 49ers.

With Los Angeles knocking off the Vikings, Minnesota fell to 7-8 for the season. They’re now sitting at the No. 9 seed going into the late games Sunday. One more win for the San Francisco and one more loss for the Vikings pushes the latter out of range to threaten the 49ers’ playoff spot.

Minnesota faces the Packers in Green Bay in Week 17 while the 49ers host the Houston Texans. The Vikings will certainly be underdogs in that game while the 49ers will be favored at home against a 4-11 Houston club.

Two key games remain this week. San Francisco needs Dallas to beat Washington on Sunday night, and they need the Dolphins to stay hot and beat the Saints on Monday night. If both of those games shake out in the 49ers’ favor, New Orleans, Minnesota and Atlanta would all be 7-8 while the 49ers and Eagles occupied the No. 6 and 7 seeds at 8-7.

There aren’t any guarantees over the final couple weeks, but getting Minnesota a full game behind San Francisco is helpful and strengthens the 49ers’ position going into the final two weeks.

Updated NFC playoff standings: 49ers somehow alive in NFC West race

The #49ers are still the No. 6 seed with a little bit of breathing room, but the NFC West crown and a top-four seed is still on the table.

After COVID-19 forced the NFL to push a pair of games to Tuesday, Week 15 is finally in the books. Tuesday’s games both had an impact for the 49ers’ playoff seeding, but only one went their way.

The Eagles’ victory over Washington helped because it pushed Washington down in the playoff race and the 49ers hold a tiebreaker over the Eagles thanks to their Week 2 victory over them in Philadelphia.

The Rams’ win over the Seahawks effectively eliminated Seattle from the race, but it kept Los Angeles two games ahead of San Francisco for the No. 5 seed in the NFC with three games to play.

Here’s what the playoff standings look like after 15 full weeks:

1. Packers (11-3)
2. Cowboys (10-4)
3. Buccaneers (10-4)
4. Cardinals (10-4)
5. Rams (10-4)
6. 49ers (8-6)
7. Vikings (7-7)

8. Eagles (7-7)
9. Saints (7-7)
10. Washington (6-8)
11. Atlanta (6-8)

It still looks like nine wins will do the trick for the 49ers to clinch an NFC playoff spot thanks to tiebreakers over Minnesota, Philadelphia and Atlanta. They’ll still need a little help though for nine wins to do it. 10 would put them in a more comfortable position and with games coming up against the scuffling Titans and the lowly Texans, a path to 10 victories is easy to chart.

There’s also this: the NFC West crown is still up for grabs. If Arizona loses their next three at home vs. the Colts, on the road vs. the Cowboys and home vs. the Seahawks, and the Rams lose either in Minnesota or in Baltimore, the 49ers would need to win their next two to set up a winner-take-all game between San Francisco and LA for the NFC West title and a home playoff game in the first round.

That scenario isn’t likely, but it’s impossible to rule out anything given how up and down this NFL season has been.

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NFC playoff standings: 49ers stay put after Week 15 shakeup

There was movement in the NFC playoff race, but the important game for the #49ers happens Tuesday. Updated playoff standings:

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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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NFL 2021 playoff picture, standings: Where Chargers stand after loss to Chiefs

With Week 15 nearing an end, a look at how the AFC West standings and the playoff picture currently shape up.

The Chargers fell to 8-6 after losing to the Chiefs on Thursday night.

Following the loss, how does it affect Los Angeles, and how does it stack up with the other teams in the AFC West and conference?

Here’s a look at the division standings with Week 15 nearing an end:

1. Chiefs (10-4)

2. Chargers (8-6)

3. Broncos (7-7)

4. Raiders (6-7)

And, a look at the playoff picture:

1. Chiefs (10-4)

2. Patriots (9-5)

3. Titans (9-5)

4. Bengals (8-6)

5. Colts (8-6)

6. Chargers (8-6)

7. Bills (8-6)

AFC playoff matchups if the season ended today:

  • No. 2 Patriots vs. No. 7 Bills
  • No. 3 Titans vs. No. 6 Chargers
  • No. 4 Bengals vs. No. 5 Colts

The Browns and Raiders face off on Monday evening.

If Cleveland wins, they will become the 4th seed, and Cincinnati would bump down to the 6th seed based on head-to-head win percentage.

That would also drop Los Angeles to the 7th seed and knock Buffalo out into the hunt because of the best win percentage in conference games.

What are Chargers’ chances to make playoffs, win division after loss to Chiefs?

Following their loss to the Chiefs, we take a look at the Chargers’ chances of still winning the division and making the playoffs.

In arguably the most attractive game of the week, the Chargers fell to the Chiefs in overtime on Thursday night by the score of 34-28.

Had Los Angeles taken care of business, they would have completed the sweep over Kansas City, sat in first place in the AFC West, and been able to control its destiny the remainder of the season.

Now, 8-6 on the season and currently still with the fifth seed, the Bolts are not in as comfortable of a position as they would have been if they won.

According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Chargers now have a 72.4% chance of making the playoffs and a 6% chance of still winning the division.

For Los Angeles to be crowned AFC West champs, they would have to win the three remaining games on the schedule and need Kansas City to lose two, including the Week 18 matchup against the Broncos.

At 11-6 apiece, the Bolts would win the tiebreaker over the Chiefs based on the best win percentage in conference games.

Given the fact that Los Angeles has the second-easiest remaining schedule, with games against the Texans, Broncos, and Raiders on the docket and Kansas City has the ninth-most difficult (Steelers, Bengals, and Broncos), it’s certainly possible.