Who are the San Francisco 49ers possible playoff opponents?
Jan 3, 2023, 2:38 PM
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 22: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers prepares for the snap during the game against the San Francisco 49ers in NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lambeau Field on January 22, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
With one more weekend of games in the NFL, the playoff picture is becoming more clear for the San Francisco 49ers.
After Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings’ loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Niners now sit in the number two seed of the NFL playoff picture.
And following Week 17, the possible playoff opponents for the 49ers have widdled down to four teams…if they stay at the number two position.
If San Francisco wins Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, the 49ers clinch the number one seed and a first-round bye. But, the belief is the Giants will rest their starters because their playoff position is secured, providing the Eagles an easier path the locking in the top spot in the NFC playoffs.
So, let’s assume the Eagles win. Let’s jump straight to the losing scenario because that’s shorter. If the 49ers lose and the Vikings beat the Chicago Bears, then San Francisco will slide back to the third position and will host the New York Giants.
The 49ers hold the conference tiebreaker over the Vikings, so if both teams win this weekend, the Niners will hold onto the number two position. With a win Sunday, the list of teams that could travel to San Francisco are now the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers or Seattle Seahawks. The Packers punch their ticket with a win, the Seahawks are in with a win and a Green Bay loss and the Lions are in with a win and a Seattle loss.
“These guys have been doing it the right way, week in and week out,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. “We can’t have that let up now. We have a huge game this week, I know these guys will come in Wednesday ready to go and we have to finish this season off the right way, this regular season and make sure that we’re playing our best football going into the playoffs.”
It's a date! We'll see you at the regular season finale back at @LevisStadium.
Limited tickets are available for #AZvsSF.
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 2, 2023
