49ers Set to Climb NFC Playoff Ladder - Without Taking the Field in Week 14
The San Francisco 49ers might be on bye this week, but that doesn’t mean they’re standing still in the NFC playoff race. In fact, they're moving up - and they won’t even have to lace up their cleats.
At 9-4, the Niners currently hold the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture - the final Wild Card spot. But when Week 14 wraps up, they’ll be in a better position, no matter what happens across the league.
That’s a rare luxury in a conference this crowded, and it's all thanks to one pivotal NFC North matchup: Bears vs. Packers.
The Bears-Packers Game Has Major Implications for San Francisco
Let’s lay out the current NFC playoff standings heading into Week 14:
- Chicago Bears (9-3, 1st NFC North)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3, 1st NFC West)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4, 1st NFC East)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5, 1st NFC South)
- Seattle Seahawks (9-3, 2nd NFC West)
- Green Bay Packers (8-3-1, 2nd NFC North)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4, 3rd NFC West)
It’s a logjam at the top - the No. 1 and No. 7 seeds both have nine wins. But here’s where things get interesting: the outcome of the Bears-Packers clash guarantees that the 49ers will move up in the standings, even while sitting out this week.
If Green Bay loses, they drop to 8-4-1. That half-game difference is all San Francisco needs to leapfrog the Packers in the standings.
On the flip side, if the Bears fall to 9-4, they’d match the 49ers in overall record - but San Francisco holds the edge in conference play (8-2 vs. Chicago’s 6-2), which would push the Niners ahead in the tiebreaker.
So, regardless of who wins at Lambeau, the Niners are getting a playoff bump. That’s not just helpful - it’s huge.
A Path to the No. 2 Seed?
Now, let’s go a step further. If both the Seahawks and Rams - currently ahead of the 49ers in the NFC West - stumble this weekend against the Falcons and Cardinals respectively, San Francisco could find itself sitting in the No. 2 seed by the end of Sunday.
That’s right. From the final Wild Card spot to the verge of a first-round bye - all without taking a snap in Week 14.
Of course, that’s a big “if.” But in a season where every inch matters, the possibility alone is a testament to how tightly packed the NFC race has become.
Still Plenty of Football Left, But Week 14 Is a Win Regardless
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves - there’s still a lot of football to be played. The 49ers have a critical Week 17 showdown looming against the Bears that could carry major playoff implications. And with the NFC West as competitive as ever, nothing is locked in.
But for now, San Francisco can sit back and enjoy a rare midseason win without lifting a finger. No matter what happens this weekend, they’ll be climbing the playoff ladder.
In a race this tight, every rung counts.