NFL playoff standings: 49ers close gap with Eagles to 1 game for top seed

The 49ers remain the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture, but their Week 13 win over the Eagles could potentially carry a serious advantage.

While no regular-season win can make up for a defeat in a conference championship game, the San Francisco 49ers walloping the Philadelphia Eagles 42-19 on Sunday has to feel pretty good after what went down between these two teams in the NFC Championship last January.

It especially has to feel good for quarterback Brock Purdy, whose torn UCL in that particular game thwarted any chances the Niners had to advance to the Super Bowl while also prompting his lengthy comeback after the injury and subsequent surgery.

Philly remains the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture, yes, despite falling to 10-2. Meanwhile, San Francisco is now 9-3 but boasts an identical record as two other NFC contenders, the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.

With NFC action all wrapped up for the week (Monday Night Football is an AFC showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars), let's look at how the standings are and why the 49ers' victory over Philly is more important than just wins and losses.

NFC standings after Week 13: 49ers trail Eagles by 1 game but hold crucial tiebreaker

Philadelphia's hold on the No. 1 seed in the conference just got a lot more precarious after losing in Week 13.

Meanwhile, the Niners are now just one game behind the Eagles in conference standings:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)*
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-3)*
3. Detroit Lions (9-3)*
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6)*
5. Dallas Cowboys (9-3)
6. Minnesota Vikings (6-6)
7. Green Bay Packers (6-6)

*denotes division leader

Related story: Kyle Shanahan reveals what Nick Sirianni said to him after 49ers-Eagles scuffle

Should San Francisco and Philly finish the regular season with identical records, the Week 13 win would be the crucial tiebreaker for the 49ers, which made Sunday's victory that much more vital.

On top of that, at least for a brief moment, the Niners will be rooting for the Cowboys to beat the Eagles at AT&T Stadium in Week 14, as that would not only move San Francisco into the No. 1 seed in the conference, provided it beats the Seattle Seahawks at home that same week, but it would also seriously endanger Philly's hold on the NFC East and at least one home game in the postseason.

Dallas beating the Hawks on Thursday Night Football this week also helped ensure the 49ers' claim on the NFC West would only improve after Week 13.

Additionally, though, the Niners' win over Philadelphia was massive in more ways than one.

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