USA TODAY projections have 49ers running away with NFC West in 2020

USA TODAY has the 49ers winning the NFC West, but heading on the road for the NFC championship game.

The 49ers’ 2020 offseason put them in a position to effectively replicate the roster that took them to a 13-3 record and a trip Super Bowl LIV last season. Their maneuvering was enough to have them running away with the NFC West despite finishing a game worse than they did last year in the USA TODAY pre-season predictions.

Here’s what the NFC West standings look like in the projections:

49ers, 12-4
Seahawks, 9-7
Cardinals, 7-9
Rams, 6-10

This would certainly make the 49ers and Seahawks’ Week 17 showdown much more anti-climactic than it was a year ago. In fact, if this is how the season shakes out, it’d be an awfully disappointing year in an NFC West that should be one of the best divisions in football.

Where things get interesting is looking across the rest of the postseason picture. The 49ers would wind up as the No. 2 seed behind the 12-4 Saints since New Orleans in this situation knocked off the 49ers in the Superdome.

Green Bay and Dallas are the other two division winners at 10-6, so the 49ers’ matchups against both of those clubs won’t come into play in a tie-break scenario.

In prior years, landing the No. 2 seed is a gift since it earns a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the divisional round. That won’t be the case this season since a third wild card team enters the picture so the first-round bye belongs only to the No. 1 seed. Not only would San Francisco then have to play on wild card weekend – they’d have to travel back to New Orleans for the NFC title game. That’s a brutal stretch for a team that tied for the best record in the conference.

There’s a very real chance that the NFC’s No. 1 seed comes down to the 49ers and Saints, which makes their Week 10 showdown in the Big Easy perhaps the most important game of the year on the 49ers’ schedule.

Even if they finish as the No. 2 seed though, the 49ers would surely take another NFC West crown and home-field advantage for at least the first two playoff games. Getting in position to play for another Super Bowl a season after losing one would be a pretty stellar feat for a team that won four games just two years ago. It’d also point to the 49ers’ championship window extending well beyond 2020.

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Bills playoff picture: AFC East title up for grabs

Buffalo Bills, AFC East, and the New England Patriots.

The Bills are postseason bound, but will they do so as AFC East champions?

If so, it’ll be the first time since 1995 the Bills have taken the crown.

Regardless, following their 17-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15, the Bills will be in the dance. In order to win the AFC East, here’s what must happen over the final two weeks of the NFL season.

First, the Bills have to win against the Patriots on Saturday.

Earlier this year, the Pats beat the Bills 16-10 and many are expecting another low-scoring affair. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen went out of the game in that one and did not finish it.

Allen will look to complete this game, and do so with a win. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

But wait, there’s more. The Miami Dolphins face the Patriots in the season finale. Could the Dolphins play spoiler? They’ll need to for the Bills. With a win this week by the Bills, Buffalo still needs New England to lose in Week 17 to the Dolphins to wrap up the AFC East title.

In addition, the Bills will then have to beat the Jets in their own season finale at New Era Field.

While Miami is struggling this season, there’s one thing hang your hat on. If there’s any team in the AFC East that’s given the Pats a fit during their dynasty, it’s been the Dolphins.

If there’s one thing to be disappointed about: The Patriots have won 10-straight AFC East titles.

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49ers clinch playoff spot despite loss

The 49ers seeding took a hit Sunday, but they punched their ticket to the playoffs thanks to a Rams loss.

The 49ers on Sunday backed into their first postseason berth since 2013. While San Francisco was losing to the Falcons, the Rams were getting blown out in Dallas. The result of the latter punched the 49ers’ ticket to the playoffs.

San Francisco also could’ve clinched with a win or losses by both the Vikings and Packers. Surely they would’ve preferred to clinch with a victory, but they’re officially in the tournament.

Now it’s all about seeding. Their loss to the Falcons, combined with the Seahawks’ win over the Panthers, dropped the 49ers to No. 2 in the NFC West, and No. 5 in the NFC.

It was a dramatic swing that drastically altered the NFC playoff picture. Here’s what it looks like going into Sunday night football:

1. Seahawks (11-3)
2. Packers (11-3)
3. Saints (10-3)
4. Cowboys (7-7)
5. 49ers (11-3)
6. Vikings (10-4)

New Orleans will shake up the standings some depending on the outcome of their game Monday night against the Colts.

The good news for San Francisco is two-fold.

First, they’re in the playoffs. No matter what happens the rest of the season, they’ll at least play on Wild Card Weekend in January. If the season ended Sunday they’d head to Dallas to play the Cowboys.

Second, they can still grab the No. 1 seed with a win over the Rams next week, and a win over the Seahawks in Week 17.

Sunday’s loss for San Francisco was bad, and their spot in the playoff picture is pretty bleak compared to what it was entering the day, but they control their own destiny with two games remaining, and still have a shot at the No. 1 overall seed.

How Week 14’s games impacted Rams’ playoff odds

The Rams improved their playoff chances with a win on Sunday night.

Slowly but surely, the Rams are bettering their chances of making the playoffs. Thanks to two straight wins and only a one-game deficit to the Vikings for the sixth seed, Los Angeles still has a fair chance to reach the postseason for the third straight year.

Their odds improved in Week 14 after they crushed the Seahawks 28-12 at home, too.

According to New York Times’ playoff calculator, the Rams currently have a 34% chance to make the playoffs, which is up from just two weeks ago. Before the Seahawks beat the Vikings in Week 13, the Rams had a 20% chance. It increased to 26% after Seattle won that game, and has since jumped to 34%.

That number may not inspire much confidence from fans, but the postseason is certainly within reach. If the Rams beat the Cowboys on Sunday and the Vikings lose to the Chargers, Los Angeles will have a 69% chance.

The Rams would actually move into the No. 6 seed in the NFC, holding the tiebreaker over the Vikings based on record against common opponents. If the Rams lose and the Vikings win, however, Los Angeles’ odds drop to only 7%. A win by the Rams and Vikings pushes Los Angeles’ chances to 40%, though.

When it’s all said and done, the Rams likely need to win at least two of their last three games, if not win out. Games against the Cowboys, 49ers and Cardinals make that difficult, but it’s not impossible.

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49ers regain place as NFC No. 1 seed after Seahawks lose to Rams

The 49ers’ stay as the No. 5 seed in the NFC only lasted one week.

The 49ers’ brief stint as the NFC’s No. 5 seed lasted exactly one week. They’re back atop the conference after beating the Saints 48-46 in New Orleans to move to 11-2. They passed the Seahawks, who fell to the Rams 28-12 Sunday night in Los Angeles.

Here’s an updated look at the NFC playoff picture after Sunday’s action:

1. 49ers (11-2)
2. Packers (10-3)
3. Saints (10-3)
4. Cowboys (6-7)
5. Seahawks (10-3)
6. Vikings (9-4)

The Rams stayed in the thick of the playoff hunt after moving to 8-5 on the year with their win. They also thwarted the 49ers’ chance to wrap up a playoff spot, but now San Francisco can snag that at home Sunday vs. the Falcons.

San Francisco now controls its own destiny and holds head-to-head tiebreakers over the Packers and Saints.

The 49ers host the Falcons in Week 15, the Rams in Week 16, and then travel to Seattle for a Week 17 game that will very likely decide the division barring any catastrophic slip ups by either team.

If San Francisco pulls out the division, they’re more than likely going to be the NFC’s top seed and secure a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs thanks to tiebreakers. That makes their final three games all the more important.

NFC playoff picture: Rams still very much alive after Week 14 win

The Rams are still one game back of the Vikings in the NFC wild-card race.

The Rams answered the bell on Sunday night in a pivotal matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. It wasn’t a game that necessarily favored the Rams, considering Seattle had won five in a row, but Los Angeles took care of its division rival and crushed the Seahawks 28-12.

With the victory, the Rams kept their postseason hopes alive. They’re still only one game back of the Vikings for the sixth wild-card spot with three weeks remaining, meaning they don’t necessarily need to win out in order to make the playoffs.

Depending on what Minnesota does, the Rams can go 2-1 and still sneak into the playoffs – which is the ultimate goal for the team right now. Here’s how the playoff picture looks after their win on Sunday night, with the only Week 14 game left being Giants-Eagles – which has no bearing on the Rams.

NFC West: 49ers (11-2)
NFC North: Packers (10-3)
NFC South: Saints (10-3)
NFC East: Cowboys (6-7)
Wild card: Seahawks (10-3)
Wild card: Vikings (9-4)

In the hunt

Rams (8-5)
Bears (7-6)
Eagles (5-7)

The Rams are one game behind the Vikings, but what’s important to note is the tiebreaker. According to ESPN’s playoff machine, Los Angeles owns the tiebreaker over the Vikings because of each team’s record in common games. That holds true if the Rams beat the Cowboys next Sunday and Minnesota loses to the Chargers.

Here’s each team’s remaining schedule

Rams: at DAL (6-7), at 49ers (11-2), vs. Cardinals (3-9-1)

Vikings: at LAC (5-8), vs. Packers (10-3), vs. Bears (7-6)

The Vikings technically have the tougher schedule the rest of the way with their opponents having a combined record of 22-17. The Rams’ opponents have a record of 20-18-1, so it’s not much of a difference.

The Rams are also on the road twice, whereas Minnesota will be at U.S. Bank Stadium twice in the final three weeks. It doesn’t make this deficit insurmountable by any means, but the Vikings are in the driver’s seat for now.

How to Watch Lions vs. Vikings, NFL Week 14 Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch Lions vs. Vikings Live Online.

The Detroit Lions (3-8) head to Minneapolis to face the Vikings (8-4) in an NFC North contest. The Vikings have won the last four contests. Both teams met back in Week 7 when Kirk Cousins and Matt Stafford each threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. However, it was Vikings running back Dalvin Cook’s 142 yards rushing and two touchdowns that provided the difference in the game. Can the Vikings pick up another divisional win and inch closer to the Packers? We’ll find out Sunday.

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Lions vs. Vikings

When: Sunday, December 8

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Everything seemed to be going wrong at the quarterback position for the Lions. Stafford and Jeff Driskel were both out, so it was next man up for Detroit. David Blough completed 22 of 38 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, but the team lost 24-20 vs. Chicago, its fifth loss in a row. Bo Scarborough rushed for 83 yards and Kenny Golladay reeled in four catches for a season-high 158 yards, his fifth game over 100 yards. Detroit can put up points and it will try and beat you through the air. The Lions rank seventh in total yards (337.2 YPG) and seventh in passing yards (271.7 YPG).

While the offense is successful, the Lions defense has struggled mightily. Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns. As a unit, the defense is 29th in total yards allowed (398.1 YPG) and 30th in passing yards allowed (280.1 YPG). The Vikings rely on the run, but with Cook’s production down the last two games, they could put the ball in Cousins’ hands more and allow his weapons on the outside to make plays.

Don’t count the Vikings out in any games. Their last four have been decided by seven points or less and that includes a 26-23 loss to Kansas City on the road and a 37-30 loss in Seattle last week. Cousins completed 22 of 38 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Those passes went to a total of nine different wide receivers. Cook injured his shoulder in the game and has since said he will be ready to play, but how productive will he be? In his last two games, he has a combined 55 yards and two touchdowns. Not the numbers the league’s fifth-best rusher (1,046 yards) is accustomed to putting up.

The Seahawks totaled over 450 yards of offense against Minnesota. Russell Wilson made plays with his arm and accounted for 240 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, but it was Seattle’s ground and pound rushing attack that was the most damaging. Chris Carson and Rashad Penny combined for 38 carries, 176 yards, and two touchdowns. How will the defense bounce back against a weak Lions running attack? Can it stop the passing game? That is Detroit’s forte and the Vikings are ranked 20th in that category (242.9 YPG), the worst of any major defensive statistic.

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Ravens at Bills Live Stream: Preview, Prediction, NFL Week 14, TV, Channel, How to Watch

Watch Ravens at Bills Live Online.

We have one of the biggest games of the weekend on our hands with the 10-2 Baltimore Ravens coming to Orchard Park, NY to take on the 9-2 Buffalo Bills. Two second-year quarterbacks looking to excel in the next level of football with both teams looking to stop Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

NFL Football: Baltimore Ravens (-6) at Buffalo Bills

Date: Sunday, December 8th
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV Channel: CBS
Live Stream: CBS All Access (Try it FREE now)

Baltimore is coming off a tough matchup with San Francisco last Sunday with a 20-17 win at home while Buffalo went on the road to Dallas and knocked off the Cowboys 26-15. The real question is will the Buffalo Bills be one of the first teams to stop Lamar and the troops. We all know that the Ravens are going to run the ball and while averaging at least five yards per carry there is no reason why they wouldn’t continue the ground and pound running style.

The Buffalo Bills defense is not one to overlook and will look to stop Lamar and the Ravens with their potent offense. Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano will be ready to shadow Lamar and hope to show the world who the Buffalo Bills are.

Prediction: Analyst Ryan Brandenburger thinks the game will be close but isn’t sure that Buffalo’s defense can stop Lamar Jackson. If the Bills defense stops the Ravens the first few possessions then the Bills have a shot. Take the under 44 and the Ravens will cover the -6 spread in this contest with a 27-20 victory.

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49ers fall to No. 5 seed in NFC after Seahawks beat Vikings

The NFC playoff picture got a big shakeup after the Seahawks beat the Vikings on Monday Night Football.

Week 13 highlighted just how slim the 49ers’ margin of error was in their chase for a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They entered the week as the No. 1 seed, but a loss to the Ravens, and the Seahawks’ win over the Vikings pushed San Francisco all the way to the No. 5 seed in the NFC.

The 49ers and the Seahawks are tied atop the NFC West with 10-2 records. However, Seattle owns the head-to-head tiebreaker, and therefore take over the top spot in the division. Since the top four seeds in the NFL playoffs belong to the division winners, Seattle jumps into the top four, while the 49ers drop to the top wild card spot.

Since the Saints own the head-to-head tiebreaker, they’re the No. 1 seed while Seattle sits at No. 2.

Here is the updated NFC playoff picture:

1. Saints (10-2)
2. Seahawks (10-2)
3. Packers (9-3)
4. Cowboys (6-6)
5. 49ers (10-2)
6. Vikings (8-4)

The 49ers face the Saints in Week 14, but a win over New Orleans won’t change the seeding unless Seattle drops their game in Los Angeles vs. the Rams.

We likely have the six playoff teams with plenty of seeding still to shake out. The Rams are in the hunt at 7-5, and the Eagles could still take the No. 4 seed by winning the NFC East.

The good news for San Francisco is they get another crack at Seattle in Week 17. If the 49ers keep pace the rest of the way, that game would be for either a first-round bye or the No. 5 seed and a road playoff game on wild card weekend.

Seattle’s win eliminated the 49ers’ already razor thin margin of error. Now every week is a must-win. Any stumble the rest of the way could be the difference between resting and playing on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

Bills playoff picture: Post Week-12 recap of AFC teams ‘in the hunt’

With that, here’s a recap of the latest happening in the AFC playoff picture from Week 12:

The Bills took another step forward in their hopes for a playoff berth in Week 12. Buffalo handled their business against the Denver Broncos in a 20-3 win.

But there are still several teams on the Bills’ heels, hoping to steal their spot. The work is far from done.

With that, here’s a recap of the latest happening in the AFC playoff picture from Week 12:

AFC seeding:

New England Patriots (10-1)
Baltimore Ravens (9-2)
Houston Texans (7-4)
Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)
Buffalo Bills (8-3)
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
Oakland Raiders (6-5)
Indianapolis Colts (6-5)
Tennessee Titans (6-5)
Cleveland Browns (5-6)

Playoff team recap:

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Lions vs. Vikings

AFC seeding:

“In the hunt” recap

10. Cleveland Browns (5-6)

Week 12:

Next game:

9. Tennessee Titans (6-5)

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8. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)

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7. Oakland Raiders (6-5)

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Playoff team recap:

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)

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5. Buffalo Bills (8-3)

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4. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)

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3. Houston Texans (7-4)

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2. Baltimore Ravens (9-2)

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1. New England Patriots (10-1)

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