NFL Playoff Picture: Can the 49ers Stay On Top of the NFC?
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The 49ers are no longer undefeated, but they have not lost possession of first place in the NFC, at least not yet. With San Francisco’s Monday night loss, the gap closed between the 49ers and the crowd of NFC teams with just two losses. Green Bay, New Orleans, and Seattle are all following one loss behind San Francisco. Green Bay has the week off before facing off with the NFC-leading 49ers in Week 12. The Week 17 rematch between Seattle and San Francisco might be for the division. The NFC North and NFC East could come down to decisive Week 16 matchups between the Packers and Vikings and Cowboys and Eagles.
In the AFC, If the season ended today, the Steelers would make the playoffs (!) After Roethlisberger was lost to injury and Pittsburgh lost it’s first two games, the playoffs seemed completely out of reach. Will another team make late season turnaround? (We’re looking at you Nick Foles.) Here’s a quick look at the playoff picture as it stands ahead of Week 11.
NFC
PLAYOFF TEAMS
1. 49ers (8-1): San Francisco leads the NFC West and the conference but has a tough road ahead with games remaining against the Packers, Ravens, Saints, Rams and Seahawks.
2. Packers (8-2): Green Bay has a one-win lead over the Vikings for the top spot in the NFC North. Next up? The currently top-seeded 49ers after a bye week.
3. Saints (7-2): New Orleans has a two-game lead over Carolina in the NFC South, and while Tampa Bay and Atlanta are mathematically still in it, neither team is threatening for the division title.
4. Cowboys (5-4): Cowboys and Eagles have twin 5-4 records, but Dallas beat Philadelphia in Week 7. They’ll play again in Week 16 (one of our must-watch games at midseason), and both teams have New England on the schedule before then.
5. Seahawks (8-2): Nipping at the heels of the division- and conference-leading 49ers. Seahawks enjoy a bye week this week, then hit the road for Philadelphia. A Week 17 rematch with San Francisco could decide the division.
6. Vikings (7-3): Kirk Cousins’s prove-it Sunday night win puts the Vikings in solid position for a wild-card spot.
IN THE HUNT
7. Rams (5-4): Los Angeles plays at home the next two weeks, which will be crucial to gaining ground in the competitive NFC West.
8. Eagles (5-4): Thanks to the Vikings’ win in Dallas, the Eagles are still in the mix to win the NFC East. Up next: New England.
9. Panthers (5-4): Up next: Falcons. Atlanta upset New Orleans last week, so Panthers beware.
BARELY HANGING ON
10. Bears (4-5) Chicago faces a downtrodden L.A. Rams team in Los Angeles this week. Last week’s win broke a four-game losing streak, but to catch the Vikings for a wild card spot will be an uphill battle.
TECHNICALLY STILL IN THE RUNNING, BUT REALLY NOT HAPPENING: Lions (3-5-1), Cardinals (3-6-1), Buccaneers (3-6)
AFC
PLAYOFF TEAMS
1. Patriots (8-1): New England will likely win home-field advantage as usual, but Baltimore could present a real challenge. The Patriots close their season with what should be easy wins—Bengals, Bills and Dolphins.
2. Ravens (7-2): With the head-to-head tiebreaker over New England, Baltimore could threaten for the top AFC spot.
3. Texans (6-3): Colts K Adam Vinatieri is an honorary Texan.
4. Chiefs (6-4): Kansas City is still at the top of the AFC West, even after another unexpected loss.
5. Bills (6-3): Buffalo probably won’t catch up to New England for the division, but they’re comfortably in a wild-card spot.
6. Steelers (5-4): That trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick is looking better and better.
IN THE HUNT
7. Raiders (5-4): Gruden’s team has momentum and not a terribly tough schedule ahead. Bengals and Jets up next.
8. Colts (5-4): Losing to Miami in Week 10 was not good for Indianapolis’ playoff chances.
9. Titans (5-5) The upset of Kansas City kept the Titans in the hunt for now.
BARELY HANGING ON
10. Jaguars (4-5): Nick Foles is back Sunday, and he’s certainly concocted a playoff run before. Jacksonville’s remaining schedule doesn’t feature any of the top six AFC teams.
TECHNICALLY STILL IN THE RUNNING, BUT REALLY NOT HAPPENING: Chargers (4-6), Broncos (3-6), Browns (3-6)
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ONE FUN THING: You’ve probably seen a lot of cute dogs in your life, but I promise you’ve never seen one like this pup.
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