The San Francisco 49ers are guaranteed a seeding in the top three in the NFC
As the San Francisco 49ers get ready for the regular season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, the one final question the team has to answer is exactly where on the NFC playoff seedings it finishes.
Regardless of result, the team will not finish worse than the No. 3 seed it’s occupied until very recently. A win over the lowly Cardinals will also assure it can’t do any worse than the No. 2 seed it currently sits.
While a Philadelphia Eagles loss to the New York Giants is likely since the Giants are likely to rest starters as it’s locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of any possible result, that coupled with a 49ers win sees San Francisco skate into the No. 1 seed atop the NFC.
Read More: 49ers playoff scenarios: San Francisco still alive for No. 1 seed in the NFC
What’s made the NFC playoff picture a bit interesting is the myriad of suddenly vulnerable teams combined with teams that are finishing the season strong (not unlike the 49ers).
So the question we look at when we view the playoff landscape is: which seed would truly be best for the 49ers and what are the variables that the team need to look out for when it comes to both playoff path and potential opponents.
So for this article we look at all three possible seedings, the potential opponents that they could face in Week 1 and the potential path thereafter.
What’s very interesting is how some certain higher seeded teams (which we will cover) might end up being teams that are much better matchups for the 49ers.
So let’s take a look, seed by seed.
49ers and the No. 1 seed
Road to the No. 1 seed:
- The San Francisco 49ers defeats the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants defeat the Philadelphia Eagles
Path in the playoffs:
The No. 1 seed comes with it the obvious advantage of a week off before the divisional playoff round, but there also comes one big disadvantage.
Namely, the quite likely opponent of the Philadelphia Eagles or the Dallas Cowboys that will stand in front of the 49ers, should they get it.
The 49ers can’t play the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, which rules out the NFC East winner (the Eagles or Cowboys) or the Minnesota Vikings, who are both locked into those seeds in whichever order it ends up in with this scenario.
The No. 4 seed will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that could very well be home underdogs against the NFC East runner up (again, the Eagles or Cowboys). Both the Eagles and the Cowboys have been a much superior team to the Buccaneers this season, and present a much more complete challenge for the 49ers.
There is also some room for a relatively easier opponent if the Giants in the No. 6 seed or the No. 7 seed (the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers or Detroit Lions). The 49ers have swept the Seahawks, have had the Packers number in the playoffs and are a more complete team in just about every way than the Lions.
But the potential of a Cowboys or Eagles matchup awaiting the 49ers will give them pause for thought.
49ers and the No. 2 seed
Road to the No. 2 seed:
- The San Francisco 49ers defeat the Arizona Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the New York Giants
OR:
- The San Francisco 49ers lose to the Arizona Cardinals and the Chicago Bears defeat the Minnesota Vikings
Path in the playoffs:
We take the teams that the No. 1 seed could potentially face and stick them here for the wildcard week of games, with the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions the three teams that will be competing to take on the No. 2 seed.
Since the No. 2 seed is the most likely landing spot for the 49ers, all eyes will be on these three teams to see who takes the final playoff placing.
The 49ers of course know the Seahawks very well, sweeping them this season while chasing down their lead in the NFC West. While the Seahawks have been on a relative downswing for the second half of the season, their strong first half has ensured they’re the primary favorite to make the playoffs. The equation is simple for them, defeat the Los Angeles Rams and they’re in.
Should the Rams defeat the Seahawks however, then the Packers and Lions meet up in a “win and you’re in” situation. No. 7 seed up for grabs, who wants it more?
The 49ers are of course well used to playing the Packers in the playoffs in recent years, defeating them twice, including a memorable struggle at Lambeau Field last season. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has regained some of his usual form in their run to make the playoffs, and the 49ers can’t be complacent due to previous successes.
The Lions have been one of the pleasant surprises in the NFC this season, combining some stout play with the excellent coaching of Dan Campbell to be big improvers. They can play with freedom, knowing they’re well above expectations for this season and will fancy themselves a puncher’s chance to cause some damage should they make it.
Should the 49ers dispatch of one of these teams as expected, they very well could be hoping to take on the No. 3 seed Minnesota Vikings (the Vikings are locked into the No. 3 seed if the 49ers beat the Cardinals). Minnesota have been savaged as “the worst Super Bowl contender ever” due to their record masking their often subpar play, but the truth is they’re still a team that can win close games.
The 49ers will fancy their chances however to beat the Vikings and get to the NFC Championship though, as they match up well in every conceivable way.
One last consideration. Should the Philadelphia Eagles also get knocked out of the playoffs early, the 49ers can also host the NFC Championship at that against whoever goes against them.
49ers and the No. 3 seed
Road to the No. 3 seed:
- The San Francisco 49ers lose to the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings defeat the Chicago Bears
Path in the playoffs:
The No. 3 seed would be disappointing for the 49ers given they finally managed to climb to No. 2, but it’s still a scenario that needs to be discussed.
What we do know is the No. 3 seed has it’s opponent already lined up. The New York Giants await whoever finishes here, as they’re locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of any possible results that may happen for Week 18.
The Giants have been similar to the Detroit Lions in that they’ve been a big improver in the NFC this season. Brian Daboll has been coaching them well, with quarterback Daniel Jones having the best season of his career not too long after many wrote him off as a draft bust for the Giants.
After that it’s wide open where and who the 49ers play. They could conceivably play in San Francisco or on the road should the No. 2 seed win their game, which obviously would be a big changeup.
A lot would hinge on if the Vikings managed to win their playoff game. If they do falter in the playoffs, the 49ers essentially take on the role as listed in the No. 2 seed thereafter.