The San Francisco 49ers have been not only a playoff staple for the past three years but a Super Bowl contender. Heading into Week 16, they were clinging to the last remnants of postseason hope.
However, because the Washington Commanders defeated the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Jets, the 49ers have officially been eliminated from the playoff race.
What Is the San Francisco 49ers’ Current Playoff Picture?
The season, for all intents and purposes, is over for the 49ers. San Francisco (6-8) is currently last in the NFC West. With three weeks remaining, they are two games behind the Seattle Seahawks (8-6) and three behind the Los Angeles Rams (9-6).
Since the 49ers are currently 1-4 in the division, they didn’t hold the tiebreaker over anyone. Their only chance of winning the NFC West would have involved the Rams and Seahawks losing every game, except for when they play each other, which would have to end in a tie.
The Rams won in Week 16, so that wasn’t happening. Therefore, the 49ers were eliminated from contention for the NFC West title.
As for the Wild Card, the 49ers have a 4-6 conference record compared to the Commanders’ 7-3 record. San Francisco would not have been able to jump Washington in conference record.
Their only path would have been a scenario where both teams were 9-8, and there were other teams at 9-8, creating different tiebreaker scenarios that allow the 49ers to get in, all of which was highly unlikely to begin with.
How Would a 49ers Win Impacted their Playoff Chances?
There’s a nonzero chance that a 49ers win wouldn’t have impacted their playoff chances. They would have had to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
But all of the scenarios below would knock them out of the playoffs, with at least two of them coming to fruition after the early slate ended.
- Commanders win (vs. PHI) would eliminate the 49ers from Wild Card contention.
Seahawks win (vs. MIN) and Rams win (at NYJ).Seahawks win, Rams tie, and Cardinals win.Seahawks win/tie and Commanders win/tie.- Rams win/tie and Commanders win/tie.
Cardinals win and Commanders win/tie.Seahawks win/tie, Falcons win (vs. NYG), and Buccaneers win (vs. DAL).Rams win/tie, Falcons win, and Buccaneers win.Cardinals win, Falcons win, and Buccaneers win.
Head over to PFN’s free Mock Draft Simulator so you can start getting ready for the 2025 NFL Draft.
NFC Playoff Race | Week 18
1. Detroit Lions (14-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
6. Washington Commanders (11-5)
7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
In The Hunt
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Eliminated From Playoffs
8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
10. Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
13. New Orleans Saints (5-11)
14. Chicago Bears (4-12)
15. Carolina Panthers (4-12)
16. New York Giants (3-13)
