San Francisco 49ers’ Playoff Picture: Where do they stand after Week 15?
Dec 19, 2022, 11:30 AM | Updated: 1:19 pm
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 15: The San Francisco 49ers offensive line celebrates in the locker room after clinching the NFC West after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 21-13. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
After 15 weeks of football, the San Francisco 49ers have officially emerged victorious in the NFC West.
With the win over the Seattle Seahawks Thursday night, the 49ers have clinched the division and are three games ahead in the standings at 10-4. Winners of their last seven, the Red & Gold’s 3-4 start to the year feels like a distant memory, thanks to an elite defense and excellent play-calling from head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Despite the fact that San Francisco is now on their third-string quarterback, they have managed to keep the squad afloat thanks to rookie sensation Brock Purdy. The last pick in the 2022 NFL draft has been terrific in his preliminary starts of his career, going 2-0 with 402 passing yards, five total touchdowns and no interceptions.
Playing through a significant oblique injury Thursday, Purdy has surprised more than just the national media as of late.
“He’s definitely the most poised rookie I’ve ever had,” Kyle Shanahan said postgame Thursday. “He was poised all week, even being unsure if he’d be able to go. We didn’t have any options or choices. He got comfortable and better as game went. It was pretty unbelievable…They [the team] had a lot of respect for him before that game, but they got a lot more now.”
Here’s how the NFC’s playoff picture is shaking out with three weeks to go.
Current NFC West Standings:
San Francisco 49ers: 10-4
Seattle Seahawks: 7-7
Los Angeles Rams: 4-9 (pending Monday Night Football)
Arizona Cardinals: 4-10
49ers Remaining Schedule:
12/24: vs. Washington Commanders
1/1/23: at Las Vegas Raiders
1/8/23: vs. Arizona Cardinals
NFC Seeding Through Week 15:
1st seed: Philadelphia Eagles, 13-1
2nd seed: Minnesota Vikings, 11-3
3rd seed: San Francisco 49ers, 10-4
4th seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-8
5th seed: Dallas Cowboys, 10-4
6th seed: New York Giants, 8-5-1
7th seed: Washington Commanders, 7-6-1
On The Bubble: Seattle Seahawks, 7-7
