The San Francisco 49ers control their destiny and path to the No. 1 seed. It’s simple. Beat the Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears this Sunday, then Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18, both at Levi’s Stadium, and you’re the No. 1 seed.
It won’t be easy, but win out, and you’re the top seed. The reason we say it won’t be easy, outside of the obvious, is that the Bears and the Seahawks are also vying for the top seed.
The Seahawks path is the same as the Niners. Win out, and you’re in.
The Bears have more ways to earn the No. 1 seed than the 49ers do. If Chicago beats San Francisco this week and the Lions next week, and the 49ers beat the Seahawks, then the Bears are the No. 1 seed. Chicago could also earn the No. 1 seed if Seattle loses to the Panthers and they win out, regardless of what happens between Seattle and the Niners in Week 18.
Even with the Lions losing on Christmas, the 49ers can finish as the 1, 5, 6, or 7 seed, depending on what transpires during the next two weeks. There are scenarios where the 49ers travel to Chicago, Philadelphia, Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Los Angeles. The outcomes are endless.
It helps to have home games and get one team off an emotional win while the other is your rival that you know all too well. Still, the variance, parity, and chaos of the NFL have taught us to consistently expect the unexpected.
What seed do you think the 49ers will be after Week 18?
