The San Francisco 49ers did what they were supposed to do in Week 15-handle business against a struggling Tennessee Titans squad. Their 37-24 win wasn’t just decisive, it was a statement: this team is heating up at the right time. Now sitting at 10-4, the Niners are inching closer to punching their ticket back to the postseason after missing out a year ago.
But while the Niners took care of their end, the rest of the NFC playoff picture didn’t exactly break in their favor. The Los Angeles Rams rallied from a 10-point deficit to knock off the Detroit Lions in a 41-34 shootout, improving to 11-3 and becoming the first NFC team to officially clinch a playoff berth. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks also came back from 10 down to edge out the Indianapolis Colts, 18-16, keeping pace with the Rams in the NFC West at 11-3.
So where does that leave San Francisco? Right now, they’re sitting in the No. 6 spot in the NFC playoff standings-third in their own division despite a 10-4 record. That’s how tough the NFC West has been this year.
Here’s how the NFC playoff picture stacks up heading into Week 16:
- Los Angeles Rams (11-3) - NFC West leader
- Chicago Bears (10-4) - NFC North leader
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) - NFC East leader
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) - NFC South leader
- Seattle Seahawks (11-3) - 2nd in NFC West
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4) - 3rd in NFC West
- Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) - 2nd in NFC North
- Detroit Lions (8-6) - 3rd in NFC North
- Carolina Panthers (7-7) - 2nd in NFC South
- Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1) - 2nd in NFC East
With the Niners not playing until Monday night-when they’ll face the Colts in Indianapolis-they’ll have a front-row seat to a weekend slate packed with playoff implications. And you better believe Kyle Shanahan and his staff will be watching closely.
Let’s break down the key matchups that could shape San Francisco’s path to the postseason:
Thursday Night Football: Rams at Seahawks
This one’s massive. Two NFC West heavyweights battling under the lights, and the ripple effects will be felt all the way down the coast in Santa Clara.
From a 49ers perspective, it’s actually better if the Seahawks win this one. Why?
Because San Francisco already split the season series with the Rams, and a Seattle win would keep the Rams within striking distance in the division. The Niners also beat Seattle back in Week 1 and still have a Week 18 rematch with them at Levi’s Stadium.
If the Niners can win out, and the Seahawks knock off the Rams, San Francisco could find themselves back in the NFC West title conversation thanks to tiebreaker scenarios.
So yeah, it might feel strange, but 49ers fans should be rooting for the Seahawks-at least this week.
Eagles at Commanders
The Eagles are in the driver’s seat in the NFC East. Realistically, the only way they don’t win the division is if they lose out-and two of their final three games are against Washington-while the Cowboys win out. That’s a lot of “ifs.”
Still, for San Francisco, this game matters. The Eagles are a potential threat when it comes to playoff seeding.
If the Niners can leapfrog them, it could mean a more favorable matchup or even a home playoff game, depending on how the chips fall. So while the Commanders pulling off the upset might not be likely, it would certainly help San Francisco.
Packers at Bears
This NFC North clash has serious implications-not just for those two teams, but for the 49ers as well.
The Bears reclaimed the top spot in the division with a win over the Browns, while the Packers stumbled against the Broncos and lost Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL injury. But if Green Bay takes this rematch, they’ll leapfrog Chicago and retake the division lead.
For the 49ers, this is one of those “no wrong outcome” games, because they’re likely going to be jockeying with one of these teams for playoff positioning-either as a Wild Card or a potential seeding battle among division winners. And don’t forget, San Francisco faces Chicago in Week 17. That game could end up being a playoff preview-or a tiebreaker decider.
Still, if you’re looking for the outcome that gives the Niners the most breathing room, a Packers win probably helps more.
Buccaneers at Panthers
This is a first-place battle in the NFC South, but from San Francisco’s perspective, it’s more of a background game-at least for now.
Whoever wins this division is going to be the No. 4 seed, and the other team is likely out. That could matter if the 49ers end up as the No. 5 seed, which would set up a Wild Card matchup with the NFC South champ. So while it’s not urgent viewing, it’s worth keeping an eye on-especially since these two teams meet again in Week 18, which could be the real decider.
Steelers at Lions
Now this one? This one matters-a lot.
If the Lions lose to Pittsburgh, the 49ers will clinch a playoff spot before they even take the field Monday night in Indianapolis. That’s the kind of early Christmas present Shanahan’s crew wouldn’t mind unwrapping.
If Detroit wins, then the Niners will need to take care of business themselves against the Colts to lock it in. Either way, a Lions loss simplifies things and gives San Francisco a little extra breathing room.
And with Aaron Rodgers now in Pittsburgh, there’s a bit of poetic symmetry in him possibly helping his old NFC rivals clinch a playoff berth by beating one of his former division foes.
What’s Next for the Niners?
While the rest of the NFC battles it out this weekend, the 49ers can rest, recover, and prepare for Monday Night Football in Indy. That Colts team just gave the Seahawks all they could handle, so it won’t be a walk in the park. But San Francisco is getting healthy at the right time, and with the playoffs in reach, every snap from here on out carries weight.
Keep your eyes on the scoreboard this weekend. The Niners’ playoff fate may start taking shape long before they take the field.