49ers' Rooting Guide for NFL Playoff Implications of Week 11
If the playoff were to start today, the San Francisco 49ers would face a difficult path to the Super Bowl. Their 5-4 record would have them making the field as the final wild-card team, opening with a road game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Fortunately for Kyle Shanahan's squad, there's still plenty of time for them to improve their positioning.
Despite their 5-4 record and current position in the hierarchy, the team has a good chance to climb the ladder a bit in the back stretch of the season. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, they have an 82 percent chance of making the playoffs and a 60 percent chance of winning the NFC West.
Obviously, the most important game for San Francisco 49ers this gameweek is their own against the Arizona Cardinals. They need to take care of business against teams in the division.
But these three games can help their quest for an improved playoff spot as well.
Washington Commanders at Houston Texans (1 p.m. ET)
Right now, the Washington Commanders are the 49ers' primary opposition for the final wild-card spot. At 5-5, they are just half a game behind San Francisco, and their upset 32-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles should have them playing confidently in the weeks to come.
A confident team is a dangerous team this time of year, and playing the Vikings tough and beating the Eagles in back-to-back weeks shows this team shouldn't be underestimated.
Since Taylor Heinicke took over at quarterback for Carson Wentz, the team is 4-1.
A loss to the last-place Houston Texans would certainly take some air out of their sails. The Texans haven't won a game since Week 5 when they beat the Jaguars 13-6.
They were dealt a 24-16 loss to the New York Giants last week, but two fourth-quarter turnovers in the red zone exemplify just how close they can get to victory. If they can keep the self-inflicted errors to a minimum for a week, it would help cool down a wild-card contender and give San Francisco some breathing room.
Rooting Interest: Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET)
There's no mercy to be shown when it comes to division rivalries. The 3-7 Los Angeles Rams are all but eliminated, but a loss to the New Orleans Saints would pretty much be a stake to the heart at this point.
According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, the reigning champions have just a 6 percent chance to make the playoffs and a 2 percent chance to win the division. However, a win over the Saints would boost their playoff chances back into the double digits (11 percent).
The 3-8 Saints are not a threat at all. Their playoff chances are down to just 2 percent already, and it's exclusively in the narrow possibility that the NFC South completely plummets and they are the last team standing in the division.
They are good enough to effectively drag the Rams into the same situation, though, especially considering the fact the Rams just lost Cooper Kupp. The star receiver is on injured reserve while he recovers from ankle surgery.
That takes away even more potency from an offense that has struggled all season. The offensive line has given up 31 sacks total and had to turn to John Wolford last week with Matthew Stafford in concussion protocol.
A loss to the Saints would kick a team while they're down. Niners fans aren't likely to mind.
Rooting Interest: New Orleans Saints
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET)
This is the Game of the Week in the NFL, and with the 49ers playing the Cardinals on Sunday night, it's the best option for Niners' fans anyway.
While this one doesn't necessarily impact whether San Francisco will get in, it could certainly impact where the team is seeded. It could also provide an early look at a playoff opponent.
Both the Cowboys and the Vikings should be considered contenders in the NFC. The question is which one is more likely to pose a threat to the 49ers' odds of maximizing their seeding.
In all likelihood, the gap is too vast to close in on the Vikings. Their massive win on the road against the Buffalo Bills gives them a new level of credibility, and they are already so far ahead of the 5-4 Niners at 8-1 it's hard to see them catching them.
The Cowboys are a little more vulnerable. At 6-3, they are just one game ahead of San Francisco and coming off a loss against the Green Bay Packers.
Even though it would put the Vikings even more out of reach, it would be best for the Niners to see a win from the Vikings to help them catch up with the Cowboys in the wild-card race.
Rooting Interest: Minnesota Vikings