Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, expectations in the Bay Area have always been high. While a 6-8 record is disappointing despite fighting through countless injuries, the San Francisco 49ers’ are still not technically out of the playoffs.
Let’s examine whether the 49ers can still make the NFL playoffs and how they can do so after losing to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15.
San Francisco 49ers’ Playoff Scenarios | Week 15 Update
NFC Scores in Week 15 Relevant to Playoff Race
- Rams defeated 49ers, 12-6
- Commanders defeated Saints, 20-19
- Cowboys defeated Panthers, 30-14
- Buccaneers defeated Chargers, 40-17
- Cardinals defeated Patriots, 30-17
- Bills defeated Lions, 48-42
- Eagles defeated Steelers, 27-13
- Packers defeated Seahawks, 30-13
- Vikings defeated Bears, 30-12
- Falcons defeated Raiders, 15-9
According to PFN’s Playoff Predictor, after the loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the 49ers now have just a 5.7% chance to make the playoffs. Their best chance would be to get the Wild Card after their division chances fell to 3.1%.
Week 14’s 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears helped the 49ers salvage what was left of their playoff hopes amid a three-game skid. Hopes were higher when Shanahan and company were 5-4, but the situation has become more dire, sitting at 6-8.
The opportunity is still there, but San Francisco will also face the sixth-hardest strength of schedule over the final three weeks of the 2024 season with matchups against the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Arizona Cardinals.
The 49ers are the 11th seed in the NFC after Week 15, three games behind the seventh-seeded Washington Commanders at 9-5. Of the two teams tied at 7-7, San Francisco is last after losing the tiebreakers to the Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, their chances of making the postseason look bleak as they continue to be affected by the injury bug. RBs Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) were placed on the injured reserve list before their Week 14 win. To make matters worse, they may be without Isaac Guerendo, who missed Monday and Tuesday’s practice with a foot sprain and is listed as questionable.
DE Nick Bosa and LB Dre Greenlaw are also banged up heading into the Thursday Night NFC West showdown but are expected to play. However, San Francisco will be without LT Trent Williams for the fourth consecutive game and safety Malik Mustapha.
Head over to PFN’s free NFL Playoff Predictor to test various scenarios and see how they change the playoff picture and the current NFL postseason bracket.
Can the 49ers Still Win the NFC West?
San Francisco still has a a mathematical shot to win the NFC West, but they will need quite a bit of help. According to PFN’s playoff projections, the 49ers have just a 3.1% chance to win their division.
With Seattle’s loss to Green Bay in Week 15, the 49ers’ division chances are hanging on by a thread. They still sit two games behind Seattle and the Rams.
The odds aren’t looking great for the 49ers to make their fourth consecutive postseason, and while injuries have played a massive part, there will be some tough questions to answer over the offseason if the season ends on a sour note.