NFL standings: 49ers beat Seahawks, clinch NFC West

The 49ers added some finality to the NFL standings in Week 15 by beating the Seahawks and clinching the NFC West on Thursday Night Football.

For the first time since 2019, the San Francisco 49ers are masters of the NFC West.

The 2022 NFL standings have a bit more solidarity after the Niners wrapped up their division by beating the second-place Seattle Seahawks 21-13 on Thursday Night Football. Even if head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad loses every game from here on out, San Francisco’s 5-0 record within the NFC West, paired with sweeping the Hawks, ensures no one else can take the NFC West away.

Additionally, the 49ers have about as firm a grip on the No. 3 seed in the NFL standings playoff picture, too.

Interestingly enough, the last time the Niners won the NFC West, they did so by beating the Seahawks in Seattle, although that memorable game back in Week 17 of the 2019 season was a bit more dramatic than what unfolded Thursday night.

Still, considering what was originally a shaky start for Shanahan and Co. this season, including being down to third-string quarterback Brock Purdy, clinching the division in front of the rival Hawks had to feel pretty good.

NFL standings: 49ers clinch NFC West but No. 2 seed is still in play

San Francisco isn’t going to finish any lower than the No. 3 seed in the conference, considering the lowly NFC South could potentially produce a division winner that’s merely hovering around the .500 mark at best.

With that team securing the No. 4 seed, the 49ers now find themselves looking up in the standings at the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles and the No. 2-seeded Minnesota Vikings, who now have only half a game’s lead over the Niners and play the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.

Before the weekend’s slate of games, the NFC standings of playoff teams are as follows:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-1)
2. Minnesota Vikings (10-3)
3. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
5. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
6. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
7. New York Giants (7-5-1)

Read More: 49ers now have a shot at No. 2 seed in playoffs by beating Seahawks

With the first four teams serving as division winners, San Francisco can hope Indy pulls off a win over the Vikings in some fashion, as the 49ers hold a better conference record than Minnesota and would, by that tiebreaker, leap into the No. 2 seed if the Colts win.

Considering the Niners now have a bit of a mini-break before hosting the Commanders in Week 16, it’s safe to say they’ll be doing some scoreboard-watching over the weekend.