The 49ers have a playoff spot in hand heading into Week 15, but they won’t be coasting to the regular season finish line.
For San Francisco internally the stakes are easy. They are the NFC’s No. 1 seed entering the week, and if they win out, they’ll have a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. It’s a massive advantage.
While they control their own destiny, they can get some help elsewhere on the schedule that can create a little wiggle room for them where slipping up against the Ravens at home in Week 16, or faltering vs. the Commanders on the road the week after, or dropping a division game to the Rams to close the season won’t end their bid for the No. 1 seed.
Here are some other games that’ll matter for the 49ers on Saturday, Sunday and Monday: