San Francisco 49ers: 4 Games to Watch in Week 9 for Playoff Implications

Despite the 49ers already winning their week nine matchup with the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, there is still plenty to root for on Sunday in addition to your fantasy team.

The division rival Los Angeles Rams and the biggest threat to San Francisco’s home-field playoff seeding, the 7-1 New Orleans Saints, are both on their bye week. Of course the 49ers and their fans wouldn’t have to worry about anything if they just go undefeated, but if history is any indication, that is unlikely.

A couple losses this Sunday could earn the 49ers some much needed leeway for the remainder of the regular season. Here are four games to watch in week nine for playoff implications.

Minnesota Vikings (6-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) 10 a.m

The Vikings are the only team in the 10 a.m. spot that really have a shot at catching the 49ers for a first-round bye in the playoffs. Minnesota is currently second in the NFC North, trailing just the Packers. Although they sit in second in their division, they are just one game back in the loss column for first place, two back of the 49ers.

The Vikings boast a strong defense and a powerful rushing attack with running back Dalvin Cook. What’s changed in recent weeks, however, is quarterback Kirk Cousins’ production. Cousins has thrown for over 300 yards in three of his last four games.San Francisco fans should be familiar with Cousins. The former Redskin quarterback was with 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan at Washington.

He was also rumored to be the 49ers’ future quarterback before the team acquired Jimmy Garoppolo. The Vikings might be without wide receiver Adam Thielen, who is questionable Sunday, but they should still be able to score on Kansas City’s defense. Kansas City starting quarterback, and last year’s MVP, Patrick Mahomes, is questionable for tomorrow’s game. If he is unable to go, backup Matt Moore will start.

The Chiefs still have plenty of offensive weapons in wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce, but Moore is not Mahomes, and that will be apparent on the field. The 49ers would benefit from a Chiefs win, which would give them more breathing room on one of the NFC’s better teams.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5) at Seattle Seahawks (6-2) 1:05 p.m

This is by far the most important game in terms of playoff seeding for the 49ers. Of course, the 49ers need Seattle to lose. Besides the heated rivalry, the Seahawks also pose the best threat to usurping them in the division. The second-place Seahawks are 6-2 and a win over Tampa Bay would keep the pressure on the 49ers. With two games remaining against the 49ers, the Seahawks would just need to win out in order to steal the division from San Francisco.

A Seattle loss to Tampa Bay could help on another level. The 49ers defeated the Buccaneers in week one of this season. This means Tampa Bay can help San Francisco’s résumé. The more the Buccaneers win, the better the 49ers’ strength of schedule becomes. The Seahawks are favored thanks to their MVP-candidate quarterback, Russell Wilson. Wilson has 17 touchdown passes to just one interception.

He’s been nearly perfect this season, but his one pick was a costly one to Marcus Peters and the Baltimore Ravens.The Buccaneers should not expect any relief from Wilson. If they want to win, their stout run defense (first in the NFL with just 480 yards allowed this season) will have to shut down running back Chris Carson. Their offense will also have to keep up with Seattle.

Jameis Winston is not the most reliable quarterback, and wide receiver Mike Evans is not the most consistent, but the two, paired with fellow receiver Chris Godwin, possess the ability to score with the best of them. If the Buccaneers are unable to help the 49ers out, San Francisco will get an immediate chance to take care of Seattle themselves with a win on Monday Night Football on Nov. 11.

Green Bay Packers (7-1) at Los Angeles Chargers (3-5) 1:25 p.m.

The 1 o’clock window has multiple games that should hold 49er eyes. Just like the 49ers, Green Bay has surprised the NFL with their strong start. They are threatening San Francisco for the first-round bye. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is once again having an MVP-level season, but what has really been the difference for the Packers has been their running game and timely defense.

They aren’t perfect, but they are getting younger (outside of their ageless quarterback) and have a chance to be in the upper echelon of the NFC for a while.The Chargers on the other hand, are heading in the opposite direction. Their young roster, specifically the secondary and offensive line, has been decimated with injuries.

Three safeties (Derwin James, Adrian Phillips and Nasir Adderley), center Mike Pouncey and guard Forrest Lamp are on injured reserve. Besides their free win against the Dolphins, the Chargers have not cracked 21 points since their week one win over Indianapolis. Although the offense has struggled at times, they do have quality playmakers like running back Austin Ekeler, wide receiver Keenan Allen and tight end Hunter Henry.

The Chargers are more than capable at pulling off the upset at home, which is most likely going to be full of traveling Packer fans. An unlikely win this week would not only vault the Chargers back into the AFC West playoff picture, it would help the 49ers. The 49ers and Packers also play week 12. If the Packers defeat the Chargers, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. The 49ers can handle their own business at Levi’s Stadium on Nov. 24.

New England Patriots (8-0) at Baltimore Ravens (5-2) 5:20 p.m.

The 49ers don’t have a lot to do with this game in terms of postseason outlook, but there should still be eyes on this game. San Francisco will play at Baltimore in week 13. The better the Ravens’ record is, the more meaningful that game would be for strength of schedule. The Seahawks fell to Baltimore 30-16 week seven, so a win over a top-flight Ravens team could be huge for San Francisco.

Despite having played one more game than the 49ers, the Patriots remain undefeated. If the Ravens can edge out the Patriots on Sunday Night Football, it would make the 49ers the NFL’s last undefeated team. Although that has no impact on who hosts the Lombardi trophy, it would be a nice pride booster for this 49ers team that has really forced people to pay attention this year.