Week 13 highlighted just how slim the 49ers’ margin of error was in their chase for a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They entered the week as the No. 1 seed, but a loss to the Ravens, and the Seahawks’ win over the Vikings pushed San Francisco all the way to the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
The 49ers and the Seahawks are tied atop the NFC West with 10-2 records. However, Seattle owns the head-to-head tiebreaker, and therefore take over the top spot in the division. Since the top four seeds in the NFL playoffs belong to the division winners, Seattle jumps into the top four, while the 49ers drop to the top wild card spot.
Since the Saints own the head-to-head tiebreaker, they’re the No. 1 seed while Seattle sits at No. 2.
Here is the updated NFC playoff picture:
1. Saints (10-2)
2. Seahawks (10-2)
3. Packers (9-3)
4. Cowboys (6-6)
5. 49ers (10-2)
6. Vikings (8-4)
The 49ers face the Saints in Week 14, but a win over New Orleans won’t change the seeding unless Seattle drops their game in Los Angeles vs. the Rams.
We likely have the six playoff teams with plenty of seeding still to shake out. The Rams are in the hunt at 7-5, and the Eagles could still take the No. 4 seed by winning the NFC East.
The good news for San Francisco is they get another crack at Seattle in Week 17. If the 49ers keep pace the rest of the way, that game would be for either a first-round bye or the No. 5 seed and a road playoff game on wild card weekend.
Seattle’s win eliminated the 49ers’ already razor thin margin of error. Now every week is a must-win. Any stumble the rest of the way could be the difference between resting and playing on the road in the first round of the playoffs.
