49ers now half a game out of playoffs after beating Rams

The 49ers pulled off a decisive win over the Rams in Week 10, which now gets Kyle Shanahan’s squad in the thick of the playoff discussion.

It’s amazing how much the narrative can change in the NFL on a week-to-week basis, and the San Francisco 49ers are finding that out and more after their suddenly shocking and awfully pleasing Week 10 prime-time Monday Night Football win over the Los Angeles Rams.

The Niners’ 31-10 drubbing of their NFC West rivals marks the most complete game head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad has played this season. And it’s pretty safe to argue this was the first statement game from this group in 2021, too.

Either way, it simply counts for a single win in the win/loss column. And even though San Francisco needed it in such a desperate way, following losing five of its previous six games, the game doesn’t quite get the red and gold back into playoff seeding.

But at least the 49ers are back in the discussion again.

49ers still on the outside, looking in of NFC playoff picture

If the regular season ended today after Week 10, the Niners wouldn’t be in the postseason dance.

Instead, here are the top 10 seeds in the NFC playoff picture with the first seven seeds getting into the playoffs:

1. Green Bay Packers (8-2)
2. Arizona Cardinals (8-2)
3. Dallas Cowboys (7-2)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)
5. Los Angeles Rams (7-3)
6. New Orleans Saints (5-4)
7. Carolina Panthers (5-5)
8. Minnesota Vikings (4-5)
9. San Francisco 49ers (4-5)
10. Atlanta Falcons (4-5)

Minnesota currently holds the tiebreaker over San Francisco because of conference record, and it’ll certainly be a point of interest when the 49ers host the Vikings in Week 12 after traveling to take on the two-win Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11.

The Niners also play hosts to the Falcons in Week 15.

Week 11 games of interest for 49ers playoff hopes

Despite being the No. 9 seed, San Francisco is still just half a game out of the playoff hunt despite having to eventually leapfrog the Vikings.

Read More: Favorable schedule helps 49ers postseason odds

Minnesota hosts the Packers in what could be a prime opportunity for the 49ers to do this in Week 11, provided Shanahan’s squad handles its business against the Jags.

On Thursday Night Football, the Falcons host the 6-4 New England Patriots, who have won four in a row and will look to continue that streak on the short week, while the Panthers might have an edge over the 3-6 Washington Football Team.

The Saints, meanwhile, travel to take on the up-and-down Philadelphia Eagles.