The 49ers’ chase for the 2020 postseason is over, but they can still have an impact on the playoff picture starting in Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona is 8-6 and sits with the No. 7 seed going into the penultimate week of the 2020 season. They’re one game ahead of the No. 6 seed Bears at 7-7. That means with just two games remaining, the Cardinals clinch a playoff berth with a Week 16 win and a Chicago loss.
San Francisco can’t eliminate the Cardinals from the postseason, but they can delay their entry into the tournament. While the motivation of a playoff berth may have subsided following the 49ers’ elimination, the chance to keep division rivals out is the next best thing.
They could have a chance to play spoiler in consecutive weeks as well if the Rams knock off the Seahawks to keep Seattle from clinching the NFC West title, so the 49ers should get used to that role.
