49ers' playoff chances take serious body blow after brutal loss to Seahawks

The 49ers had modestly good chances to make the playoffs prior to Week 11, but losing to the Seahawks ultimately puts the Niners in serious danger.

Week 11 could very well be a turning point for the San Francisco 49ers, and not necessarily the kind of turn fans want to hear about.

The Niners, of course, suffered yet another fourth-quarter collapse against an NFC West rival, losing to the Seattle Seahawks in heartbreaking fashion after quarterback Geno Smith went unchallenged on a scramble into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown.

The 20-17 defeat drops San Francisco down to 5-5, last in the division with a 1-3 record within the NFC West. Even though no one is running away with the division, as the Arizona Cardinals are only 6-4 after Week 11's conclusion, the 49ers' next slate of upcoming games don't exactly provide many "get right" opportunities for an inconsistent offense, frustrating defense and a putrid special teams crop.

That's why notching a victory over the Hawks carried so much importance.

Prior to Sunday, the Niners had a 50-percent chance of making the postseason despite entering the contest outside the NFC playoff picture in the No. 8 seed.

Those chances are far, far worse now.

49ers' playoff odds take a massive hit after Seahawks loss

San Francisco's defeat at the hands of Seattle carries numerous ramifications.

For starters, the 49ers no longer hold a head-to-head tiebreaker versus the Seahawks if both teams finish with identical records when the regular season concludes. Tiebreakers will fall to other factors, including divisional record, which hasn't exactly gone the Niners' way this season.

According to ESPN, San Francisco's chances of making the postseason have now fallen to a lowly 28 percent, while the odds of winning the NFC West are now just 20 percent.

If there's any solace, the 49ers are still above the Seahawks (13 percent) and Los Angeles Rams (15 percent) when it comes to being a playoff team.

The Cardinals, who were idle on a bye in Week 11, saw their playoff odds jump all the way to 63 percent, and the chances of winning the division aren't far behind at 59 percent.

Sure, there are seven games left to play. But one might assume the Niners' uphill battle might just be too big to overcome.

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