The San Francisco 49ers are officially playoff-bound - and they didn’t even have to take the field to get there.
Thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the 49ers punched their ticket to the postseason with three games still left on the schedule. It’s the fifth time in the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era that San Francisco is headed to the playoffs, and this one might be their most improbable run yet.
Let’s set the stage. The Niners are sitting at 10-4 and riding a four-game win streak.
But it hasn’t exactly been a murderers’ row - those four wins came against teams with a combined 17-43 record. Still, given the adversity they’ve faced this season, just getting to this point is a testament to the depth and resilience of this roster.
We’re talking about a team that lost both Nick Bosa and Fred Warner - arguably the heart and soul of the defense - for the season. Quarterback Brock Purdy missed time.
So did George Kittle and rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall Jr. And yet, here they are, still standing, still dangerous.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier. Up next: a Monday night clash on the road against the 8-6 Indianapolis Colts. After that, the Niners close out the regular season at home with heavyweight matchups against Chicago (11-4) and division-leading Seattle (12-3).
The Seahawks currently hold the top spot in the NFC, thanks to a wild 38-37 win over the Rams on Thursday night. But the 49ers still control their destiny. Win out, and they’ll leapfrog everyone for the No. 1 seed - securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
And here’s the kicker: Super Bowl LX is set to be played at Levi’s Stadium. So if the Niners run the table, they wouldn’t have to leave Santa Clara for the rest of the season. That’s a massive edge - especially for a team that’s already proven it can weather storms and find ways to win.
Still, Shanahan isn’t letting his team get caught up in the what-ifs.
“I mean, getting into the playoffs was our first goal, so we have an opportunity this week to do it,” Shanahan said Thursday. “I talked to the team and the only thing we talked about was the Colts.”
That laser focus is echoed by Purdy, who’s been steady under center despite the injuries and shifting personnel around him.
“Yeah, I mean obviously it’s nice, but we really do have to take it one day at a time,” Purdy said before the team departed for Indianapolis. “So for us, it’s how can we continue to get better just even this week at practice, handle business on Monday and make that everything right now. So, that’s where we have to be.”
It’s the kind of mindset you want from your head coach and your quarterback - eyes forward, feet grounded. And it’s exactly what this team needs heading into a critical stretch.
Elsewhere in the NFC, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. Seattle, Chicago, the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles, and the Rams have also locked up postseason spots. But with the top seed still in play, San Francisco’s path is clear: win out, and the road to the Super Bowl runs through Levi’s.
For a team that’s been battered, doubted, and still found ways to win, that’s a pretty enticing proposition.