Clinching the NFC's No. 1 Seed in Week 16 Might not be Best for the 49ers

For a third straight week, the 49ers have a chance to improve their playoff standing.

This time it is the opportunity to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. The 49ers will need to defeat the Ravens along with the Eagles, Cowboys, and Lions losing in Week 16. Should that happen, then the 49ers will be able to coast in the final two weeks of the season.

However, the odds of all four games playing out in the 49ers' favor seems unlikely. And that is arguably for the best. Clinching the NFC's No. 1 seed in Week 16 might not be best for the 49ers. By locking that spot up now, the 49ers will have little to nothing to play for in the final two games of the season.

Not to mention they will have a Bye in the first-round of the playoffs, so there will be three weeks straight of them not playing meaningful football. Clinching the top seed now just seems a little too early. And that can significantly increase the likelihood that they take their foot off the gas pedal. The last time the 49ers did that was following their Week 5 blowout win over the Cowboys. What happened after that?

They went on to lose their only three games of the season so far in consecutive fashion. Now, the 49ers did prove they can wake themselves up and get back on track, but they are already riding some phenomenal momentum since their Bye week. Why ruin that? Really, I don't see any team in the NFL that can put the 49ers down. Their true opponent is themselves, so by clinching the No. 1 seed now, it could lighten their focus and make it tough to get back there.

To end the season with the foot off the gas pedal could put the 49ers in a lackadaisical state. Their focus might not be at its peak as they've shown in the last month. This is why they might be better off clinching it next week or in the season finale. But who knows? It could turn out that they clinch it this week and show up in the Divisional playoff round without skipping a beat.