You can’t talk about the best teams in the NFL without mentioning who they have played. Who you play and how you win matter. According to Aaron Schatz, the 49ers have played one of the most difficult schedules in the NFL:
Look at the NFC West’s point differential compared to the rest of the league:
AFC East: -85 AFC North: -189 AFC South: +66 AFC West: +25 NFC
East: -164 NFC North: +138 NFC South: -246 NFC West: +285
Some of the 49ers’ close-ish games have aged better than expected. The Jaguars sit atop the AFC South and are a 9-win team. They needed a pair of interceptions and a punt return for a touchdown to beat the 49ers at home.
Several pundits have the Rams and the Seahawks as some of the top teams in the NFL. The 49ers beat both of them at home.
The loss to the Texans is easier to stomach after watching Houston reel off five consecutive wins, including three in a row over the Bills, Colts, and Chiefs.
As of today, most calculations give the 49ers anywhere from a 90 to 93 percent chance of making the playoffs. And there are still three playoff teams remaining on the schedule for the 49ers. Being battle-tested and having played quality opponents will come in handy, especially if San Francisco faces the NFC East or South champion.
