The outcome of Week 9's games didn't exactly benefit the 49ers, who were sitting idle on their bye.
The San Francisco 49ers (and their fans) got to relax and enjoy a stress-free weekend of football in Week 9, not worrying about another fourth-quarter collapse or key player injury.
However, the Niners had to pay attention across the rest of the league during their bye, particularly when it came to a number of games that could potentially have a sizable impact on San Francisco when the playoff picture becomes clearer.
The rest of the NFC West was active in Week 9. One game in particular, the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Seattle Seahawks, was of interest to the 49ers. Considering how crammed the division is right now, the loser of that particular game would drop all the way to last in the NFC West.
LA pulled off the road victory, 26-20. But, considering Los Angeles has the early tiebreaker over the Niners because of the former's victory in Week 3, San Francisco sits in third place despite both teams now 4-4.
Perhaps the 49ers would have preferred a Hawks victory, as it would have created a bit wider of a gap between the Niners and Rams.
But that might not be the biggest problem San Francisco has to worry about now, and there were two other specific games the 49ers would have likely preferred to have different outcomes.
No. 1: Cardinals defeat Bears
The Niners would have appreciated some help from the Chicago Bears, who visited the upstart Arizona Cardinals over the weekend but fell 29-9.
Now 5-4, the red birds sit atop the NFC West and hold the current tiebreaker over San Francisco from their victory in Week 5. Both the 49ers and Cardinals play again in Week 18, and that game takes on a lot of meaning if both teams' records wind up being identical going into the final weekend of the regular season.
Simply put, the division crown could be on the line.
Had Arizona lost, it would have been behind the Niners, in terms of win percentage, and San Francisco would have preferred that outcome.
No. 2: Lions defeat Packers
The 49ers have to play both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions later this season, and those games could have an impact on the Wild Card standings, given how jam-packed the NFC North is, too.
However, the Lions took a substantial leap within their own division after throttling Green Bay 24-14 and dominating in all facets.
Now at 7-1, Detroit would have to endure an epic second-half collapse to relinquish not only the NFC North lead but also a top seed within the conference, likely ensuring the Niners will have no chance at securing the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye within the playoffs.
Instead, San Francisco pretty much has to think solely about winning the division outright with the knowledge it'll have to probably play in the Wild Card round.