The NFC playoff picture just got a whole lot more interesting - and the San Francisco 49ers are right in the thick of it.
After handling their business with a 37-24 win over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, the 49ers improved to 10-4. But even with that convincing victory, they didn’t gain any ground in the NFC West.
Why? Because both the Rams and Seahawks pulled off comeback wins of their own, each rallying from double-digit deficits to move to 11-3.
But then came Thursday night.
In a game that had all the makings of a classic, Seattle and Los Angeles went toe-to-toe in a high-stakes showdown. The Rams looked like they had it wrapped up, leading 30-14 in the fourth quarter.
But the Seahawks came storming back, eventually pulling out a 38-37 win in overtime. That comeback didn’t just shake up the NFC West - it flipped the entire conference on its head.
With the win, Seattle became the second team in the NFC to lock up a playoff berth (joining the Rams), took over first place in the division, and now holds the coveted No. 1 seed in the NFC. Here’s how the playoff standings stack up heading into the rest of Week 16:
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3, 1st NFC West)
- Chicago Bears (10-4, 1st NFC North)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5, 1st NFC East)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, 1st NFC South)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4, 2nd NFC West)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4, 3rd NFC West)
- Green Bay Packers (9-4-1, 2nd NFC North)
- Detroit Lions (8-6, 3rd NFC North)
- Carolina Panthers (7-7, 2nd NFC South)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1, 2nd NFC East)
So where does that leave San Francisco?
Despite sitting third in the NFC West, the 49ers now control their own destiny. Win out - that’s three straight to close the regular season - and they’ll not only take the division crown but also grab the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
No tiebreakers, no scoreboard watching. Just win, and everything else takes care of itself.
That final stretch won’t be easy, though. It includes a Week 17 matchup with the 10-4 Chicago Bears and a potential Week 18 showdown for the division against the Seahawks. But before any of that, the Niners have a Monday night date with the Indianapolis Colts - a team that’s been reeling after a hot start.
The Colts opened the season 8-2 but have since dropped four straight. If the 49ers can hand Indy a fifth consecutive loss, they’ll clinch a playoff spot. That’s one path to the postseason this week.
But here’s the twist: San Francisco might not even need to win Monday to punch their ticket. If the Detroit Lions lose on Sunday, the 49ers are in - before they even take the field.
And who do the Lions face? None other than Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now, if you're a 49ers fan, this is where it gets interesting.
Rodgers, a Northern California native and Cal alum, has a long, complicated history with the 49ers. Back in 2005, he famously waited in the green room as San Francisco passed on him with the No. 1 overall pick, opting for Alex Smith instead. Rodgers slid all the way to No. 24, where the Packers scooped him up - and the rest, as they say, is history.
He spent 18 seasons in Green Bay, 15 of those as the starter, racking up 10 Pro Bowl nods, five All-Pro selections, a Super Bowl ring, and a Super Bowl MVP. The 49ers even tried to trade for him in 2021 before selecting Trey Lance at No. 3 overall, but the Packers weren’t interested in dealing him at that point. That trade didn’t come until 2023, when Green Bay finally sent him to the New York Jets, ending a turbulent chapter in franchise history.
Rodgers has never hidden his desire to wear the red and gold, but the stars never aligned. Still, he’s got a chance now to help San Francisco - in a roundabout way - by beating his old NFC North rival.
And don’t think for a second that Rodgers isn’t motivated.
The Steelers are still in the hunt for the AFC North title, so there’s plenty on the line for him and his new team. But there’s also a personal element to this one.
Rodgers’ final game as a Packer came against the Lions in Week 18 of the 2022 season. Green Bay needed a win to grab the last NFC Wild Card spot.
Instead, Rodgers threw a fourth-quarter interception with the Packers trailing 20-16 - his final pass in a Green Bay uniform. Detroit ran out the clock, eliminating the Packers and handing that playoff berth to the Seahawks.
Who did Seattle face in the Wild Card Round that year? You guessed it - the 49ers.
So now, nearly two years later, Rodgers has a chance to flip the script. A win over Detroit this Sunday doesn’t just help the Steelers - it could also send the 49ers back to the postseason.
Whether it’s Rodgers delivering some poetic justice or the 49ers taking care of business on Monday night, San Francisco’s playoff path is clear. The road is tough, but the opportunity is there. And with the way this team is built - physical in the trenches, explosive on offense, and opportunistic on defense - they’re more than capable of making a run.
The NFC may be crowded, but the 49ers are still very much in control.