The San Francisco 49ers were on their bye in Week 8. They still came out as the biggest winners in the NFC.
While the 49ers rested at 6-1, the rest of the NFC West stumbled. The Seattle Seahawks lost to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football to drop to 4-4. The Los Angeles Rams won but sit at the same record at Seattle. The Arizona Cardinals also won, but at 3-5 they remain well behind the pack.
The 49ers now lead the division by two full games over the Seahawks and Rams. They are 3-0 in NFC West play, and they hold a 1-0 edge over Seattle. The two teams meet again at Levi’s Stadium in Week 12, a game that could effectively decide the division.
The Rams’ 0-2 record against division opponents also stands out. It leaves them with little margin
if they hope to climb back into the race. San Francisco also hosts Los Angeles in another key divisional game in Week 14.
The biggest shake-up came at the top of the conference overall. The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings, dropping Minnesota to 6-2. That moved the 49ers into the No. 1 spot in the NFC, a position they now hold by virtue of a better winning percentage than the Vikings and Chicago Bears, who are both 6-2.
San Francisco should be healthier heading into Week 9, too, with several banged-up players getting some much-needed rest. They'll need to be at full strength when they hit the road to take on the Washington Commanders, as a win will continue to build the 49ers' lead in the division and, potentially, the entire conference.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers' grip on NFC West tightens after Monday Night Football
