The 49ers have the best record in the NFC. With so little to play for, Week 18 is meaningless. Now San Francisco can rest for two weeks and see which opponent it plays at home in the divisional round of the playoffs. Here’s a look at the NFC standings with one week left in the regular season: Pressed 1. z-San Francisco 49ers (12-4) 2. x-Dallas Cowboys (11-5, win over DET) 3. z-Detroit Lions (11-5, lost to DAL) 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers # (8-8, record in total games > NO) 5- x Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Year 6 – Los Angeles Rams (9-7) 8. Seattle Seahawks # (8-8) 9. New Orleans Saints # (8-8, record in games total < TB) 10.
Minnesota Vikings % (7-9) 11. Atlanta Falcons % (7-9) Playing spoiler 12. e-Chicago Bears (7-9) % 13. e-New York Giants (5-11) 14. e-Washington Commanders (4-12, win over ARI) 15. e-Arizona Cardinals (4-12, loss to WAS) 16. e-Carolina Panthers (2-14) The Lions have clinched the NFC North, but the other two divisions are still up for grabs. Well, in a way. A loss for the Eagles means they are all but locked in for 5th.
Philly needs to beat the Giants and the Chiefs will upset the Cowboys. Washington last played Dallas on Thanksgiving and lost by 35 points. As for the NFC South, Baker Mayfield and the Bucs have the best chances to win, according to the New York Times playoff simulator: Pirates – 56% saints – 27% Hawks – 17% Tampa Bay is on the road to play Carolina. Beat the worst team in the NFL and you are the division champion. Atlanta and New Orleans face off.
The winner will be hoping Bryce Young pulls off a miracle so they can lift the divisional trophy. The most likely Wild Card matchup is the Eagles facing the Buccaneers. Ten thousand breakers When it comes to teams with a pound sign next to them, breakers abound. The first thing that needs to happen is the NFC lunch limit. Tampa Bay’s win over New Orleans against regular opponents. In a three-game Wild Card game between the Packers, Saints and Seahawks, the Saints fall with a conference record. The Packers and Seahawks go toe-to-toe with the Packers pulling away. Seattle and New Orleans advance to the semifinals, with Seattle winning for a conference record. And now the teams with a percent sign after their names. Vikings and Falcons go to semifinals. The Vikings own the NFC North tiebreaker over the Bears based on record in common games, but Chicago was eliminated Sunday night with the Packers win. Minnesota beat Atlanta, which means the tiebreaker resets to the Bears and Falcons, and the Bears just beat Atlanta. Battle for the 7 seed There are five teams playing for one spot. The 49ers play the lowest seed. Would you rather play the Cowboys or the Lions? Both teams play in favorable conditions. But based on what we’ve seen over the past month, it should be Dallas, right? First of all, we have to reach the finals. We are operating under the impression that Tampa Bay will win by losing Atlanta and New Orleans. A Minnesota route isn’t likely either. The Vikings need a loss to the Saints or Bucs, the Seahawks in Arizona and the Packers at home to Chicago. Cross Minnesota.
According to the New York Times simulator, Green Bay has a 25 percent chance of making the playoffs even if they lose to the Chicago Bears. Win and they are there. A loss and the Packers would be a combination of losses by other teams competing for playoff spots. Seattle also needs help. The Seahawks were in the driver’s seat but lost at home to Kenny Pickett in Week 17. Seattle must beat Arizona and the Packers must lose to the Bears. I think the Bruins can do it at home and we have three NFC West teams in the playoffs. And the Rams have the opposite view, so they faced the Cowboys and the Rams went to Detroit with Matthew Stafford. Tell the story. Final matches Here is my guess for the Wild Card round: Hello 49ers Cowboys vs. 7. Sea hawks Lions vs. 6. Rams Pirates vs. 5. Eagles If you’re in San Francisco, you couldn’t ask for a better way to the Super Bowl. You’ve already beaten every team except Detroit, and no one is going to get Jared Goff out of the way in a playoff game. I think there is a good chance the Cowboys, Eagles and Lions will lose in the first round as well. If that happens, the 49ers would have few excuses to get out of the NFC, especially if they get a home game against a division opponent in the playoffs. Remember they get the lowest seed. So between Seattle and a combination of Green Bay or the Rams, the 49ers played a defense where you could expect 30+ points. Although the same argument could be made about other playoff teams.
