Heading into the final week of the season, the 49ers have a shot at the number one seed in the NFC.
It’s not likely, but possible. If the Eagles lose to the Giants next week and the 49ers beat the Cardinals, they’d clinch the top spot in the conference, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, even if Gardner Minshew is playing quarterback again for Philadelphia, they will still be 14-point favorites against a New York team that has clinched a playoff berth and has nothing to play for.
Amazingly, the Eagles could fall all the way down to the No. 5 seed with a loss and a Cowboys win vs. the Commanders.
Even if the 49ers don’t climb up to the top, SF moved into the No. 2 seed with their win on Sunday vs. the Raiders, combined with the tailspinning Vikings losing to the Packers. If the 49ers lose next week and the Vikings beat the Bears, SF would fall back to No. 3.
Beyond that, six teams have officially clinched the playoffs in the NFC after Week 17, with the final playoff spot still up for grabs. The Seahawks (8-8) are currently in the seven spot due to tiebreakers, but the Lions and Packers are still alive heading into the final week. If the Packers win they are in, while the Seahawks need to beat the Los Angeles Rams combined with the Lions beating the Packers for their playoff berth.
Here’s how the standings look heading into Sunday Night Football:
NFC
1. Philadelphia Eagles: 13-3 (Clinched playoff berth)
2. San Francisco 49ers: 12-4 (Clinched NFC West)
3. Minnesota Vikings: 12-4 (Clinched NFC North)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-8 (Clinched NFC South)
5. Dallas Cowboys: 12-4 (Clinched playoff berth)
6. New York Giants: 9-6-1 (Clinched playoff berth)
7. Seattle Seahawks: 8-8
** In the hunt ***
8. Detroit Lions: 8-8
9. Green Bay Packers: 8-8
*** Eliminated ***
10. Washington Commanders: 7-8-1
11. New Orleans Saints: 7-9
12. Carolina Panthers: 6-10
13. Atlanta Falcons: 6-10
14. Los Angeles Rams: 5-11
15. Arizona Cardinals: 4-12
16. Chicago Bears: 3-13
AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs: 13-3 (Clinched AFC West)
2. Buffalo Bills: 12-3 (vs. Bengals on Monday night)
3. Cincinnati Bengals: 11-4 (vs. Bills on Monday night)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-8
5. Baltimore Ravens: 10-5 (vs. Steelers on Sunday night)
6. Los Angeles Chargers: 10-6 (Clinched playoff berth)
7. New England Patriots: 8-8
*** In the hunt ***
8. Miami Dolphins: 8-8
9. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-8 (vs. Ravens on Sunday night)
10. Tennessee Titans: 7-9
*** Eliminated ***
11. New York Jets: 7-9
12. Cleveland Browns: 7-9
13. Las Vegas Raiders: 6-10
14. Indianapolis Colts: 4-11-1
15. Denver Broncos: 4-12
16. Houston Texans: 2-13-1