With just four weeks left in the NFL regular season, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in a strong position-record-wise and momentum-wise-as they gear up for what’s shaping up to be another postseason run.
Sitting at 9-4, the Niners return from a much-needed late-season bye and will host the 2-11 Tennessee Titans this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. On paper, it’s a mismatch. But in December football, no win is guaranteed-especially when playoff seeding is on the line.
Where Things Stand in the NFC
Right now, San Francisco is in solid shape within the NFC playoff picture. Thanks to key head-to-head wins, they hold tiebreakers over both the Bears and the Panthers-teams that could come into play down the stretch. That Week 12 win over Carolina looms large, and it could be the difference between a home playoff game and a road trip come January.
But while the 49ers are comfortably in the mix, their path to locking up a playoff berth-and potentially more-isn’t without obstacles.
The Final Four: One Tune-Up, Then a Gauntlet
This weekend’s matchup against the Titans is the closest thing to a breather the Niners will get the rest of the way. After that, it’s a brutal three-game stretch to close out the regular season: Indianapolis, Chicago, and Seattle-all teams with postseason aspirations of their own.
According to Tankathon, San Francisco has the 12th-toughest remaining schedule in the league, and the fifth-hardest among NFC teams. That’s not nothing. Every snap will matter from here on out.
Seattle, currently sitting at 10-3 and one game ahead of the 49ers in the standings, has an even tougher road. The Seahawks still have to face the Niners, Colts, and Rams-three teams that can punch back. If San Francisco can take care of business, there’s a real opportunity to leapfrog their division rivals and potentially climb the NFC seeding ladder.
Roster Moves: Wallow In, Bartch to IR
On the personnel front, the 49ers made a move to bolster their special teams and linebacker depth, claiming LB Garret Wallow off waivers from the Denver Broncos. To make room on the roster, OL Ben Bartch was placed on Injured Reserve.
Wallow brings experience and versatility. Originally a fifth-round pick by the Texans in 2021, he’s suited up for 42 games across stints with Houston, Tennessee, and Denver.
While he’s started only five games on defense, he’s made a name for himself on special teams-racking up 11 tackles in that phase of the game. This season, he appeared in seven games for the Broncos and logged five special teams tackles before being waived on December 6.
Wallow, 26, played his college ball at TCU, where he was a tackling machine-nearly 300 stops over four seasons, along with 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. He’s not a flashy name, but he’s the type of depth piece that can quietly make a difference in December and January.
As for Bartch, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman appeared in six games this season and made two starts. His absence will test the 49ers’ offensive line depth, but the team has shown resilience in the trenches all year long.
The Road Ahead
The 49ers know what’s in front of them. A favorable matchup this weekend, followed by a playoff-caliber stretch run. Every game from here on out carries weight-not just in terms of clinching a spot, but in shaping what kind of postseason path they’ll have to navigate.
They’ve been here before. They know what it takes. Now it’s about execution, health, and maybe a little help from the teams ahead of them.
The NFC is tightening up, and the margin for error is razor-thin. But if the 49ers can stay focused and finish strong, they’ve got all the pieces to make another deep run.