Greg Papa presses San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch on the reasons behind his team’s difficulties and potential solutions.
While the 49ers enjoyed their bye in Week 9, the NFL playoff landscape kept changing.
After their run of three consecutive losses in Weeks Six through Eight, and following Sunday’s league play, the 49ers are currently ranked third in the NFC, behind the first-place Philadelphia Eagles and the No. 2-seeded Detroit Lions.
After defeating the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the Eagles increased their record to 8-1 for the season. Meanwhile, the Lions, who were also on bye week, are still in second place with a 6-2 record.
San Francisco moved up to the top of the NFC West after the Seattle Seahawks’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the morning slate, despite the fact that the team did not play this week. Despite having the same record as of right now (5-3), the 49ers are ahead in the divisional tiebreaker.
But because they have a superior conference record than the Cowboys, the Seahawks have the tiebreaker for the No. 5 playoff slot. On the first three tiebreakers—head-to-head, divisional record, and record against shared opponents—the teams are tied.
The 49ers, the third-seeded team, would play the Cowboys, the sixth-seeded team, at Levi’s Stadium in the opening round of the postseason if the regular season concluded today.
Following the completion of Week 9 by every NFC team, the following is the current playoff landscape as of Sunday’s games:
49ERS of San Francisco
Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) is ranked first in the NFC. 2. Lions of Detroit, 6-2 Third place, San Francisco 49ers — 5-3 Fourth, New Orleans Saints— 5-4 5. 5-3 Seattle Seahawks 6. 3-1 Dallas Cowboys Seventh place Minnesota Vikings: 5-4 ****** 8. Leaders of Washington — 4-5 Nineth-place Atlanta Falcons, 4-5 10. The Bucs of Tampa Bay — 3-5 11. Green Bay Packers: Three-three Los Angeles Rams: 3–6 13. The NY Giants, 2-7 Chicago Bears — 14. 2-7 15. Carolina Panthers: 0-7 16. Cardinals of Arizona — 1-8
Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) is ranked first in the NFC.
2. Lions of Detroit, 6-2
Third place, San Francisco 49ers — 5-3
Fourth, New Orleans Saints— 5-4
5. 5-3 Seattle Seahawks
6. 3-1 Dallas Cowboys
Seventh place Minnesota Vikings: 5-4
8. Leaders of Washington — 4-5
Nineth-place Atlanta Falcons, 4-5
10. The Bucs of Tampa Bay — 3-5
11. Green Bay Packers: Three-three
Los Angeles Rams: 3–6
13. The NY Giants, 2-7
Chicago Bears — 14. 2-7
15. Carolina Panthers: 0-7
16. Cardinals of Arizona — 1-8
