SANTA CLARA — Welcome to the playoff fringe, a spot the 49ers haven’t been down the stretch since Deebo Samuel was a large again, Jimmy Garoppolo was the quarterback and it took an additional time win over the Los Angeles Rams within the last regular-season recreation to make the event in 2021.
That’s what coach Kyle Shanahan calls it. The event. And this 12 months’s event concludes with Tremendous Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 7.
About this time final 12 months, the 49ers had fallen to 5-5 with a 20-17 house loss to Seattle and by no means recovered, shedding seven of their final eight video games to complete at 6-11. The 49ers had been the highest seed in 2023, No. 2 in 2022, with out a lot drama when it got here to being tournament-eligible.
Now the 49ers are 7-4, higher than they’ve any proper to be contemplating they misplaced defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner for the season, franchise quarterback Brock Purdy for eight video games, tight finish George Kittle for 5, broad receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. for six and will not get Brandon Aiyuk again in any respect. That doesn’t embrace Mykell Williams, the No. 11 total choose within the draft, whose rookie season ended within the ninth recreation with a torn ACL.
They’re fifteenth in scoring offense (23.7 factors per recreation) and fifteenth in scoring protection (22.9), just about on the playoff bubble and in the course of the NFL fray any means you depend it.
If the 49ers get in with the No. 7 seed, their present place, their solely probability for a postseason house recreation can be the Tremendous Bowl.
The 49ers have simply three interceptions and 12 sacks. They’ve struggled to run the ball, though that has gotten higher of late with Christian McCaffrey discovering some working room to associate with his double obligation as their prime receiver.
They’ve solely outscored opponents by 9 factors. The NFC West-leading Rams are at plus-100-and second-place Seattle at plus-101. The wild card spherical shapes up this manner heading into Week 12 with the division winners getting the highest 4 seeds.
NFC
No. 1.Philadelphia (8-2) first-round bye
No. 7 49ers (7-4) at No. 2 Los Angeles Rams (8-2)
No. 6 Inexperienced Bay (6-3-1) at No. 3 Chicago (7-3)
No. 5 Seattle (7-3) at No. 4 Tampa Bay (6-4)
at .500 or higher
No. 8 Detroit (6-4), No. 9 Carolina (6-5)
AFC
Denver (8-2) first spherical bye
No. 7 Jacksonville (6-4) at No. 2 New England (9-2)
No. 6 L.A. Chargers (6-4) at No. 3 Indianapolis (8-2)
No. 5 Buffalo (7-3) at No. 4 Pittsburgh (6-4)
at .500 or higher
No. 8 Houston (5-5), No. 9 Kansas Metropolis (5-5), No. 10 Baltimore (5-5)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes towards the Arizona Cardinals in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer recreation in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photograph/Ross D. Franklin)
A fortuitous bye
The 49ers cringed when the schedule got here out with the most recent doable bye doable in Week 14, at which level they may very well be pretty much as good as 9-4 or as unhealthy as 7-6 relying on how issues go Monday night time towards Carolina at Levi’s Stadium after which on the street towards Cleveland (2-8).
Then comes every week off earlier than a four-game end at house towards Tennessee (1-9), at Indianapolis (8-2) after which two video games at house towards Chicago (7-3) and at last Seattle (7-3), a bookend to the 49ers’ season-opening win towards the Seahawks on the street.
By then, the 49ers can have shed their L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W break up persona during the last eight video games or fall out of the race. They’ll must perform as an elite offense and proceed their strong play of late on particular groups to compensate for defensive points.
Whereas the 49ers aren’t getting again Bosa, Warner, Mykel Williams and a full-strength Aiyuk, gamers who’ve had prolonged absences — corresponding to Purdy, Kittle and perhaps Pearsall — may very well be contemporary and prepared for a stretch run. Place kicker Eddy Piñeiro and center linebacker Tatum Bethune may return after struggling accidents Sunday in Arizona.
If he’s nonetheless going sturdy, the 49ers must designate it “Christian McCaffrey Appreciation Week” for the way in which he has carried the offense by 11 video games.
It’s every week off for the veteran core in addition to a rookie class that should push by a season that’s gone on longer than any they ever had in faculty.
As an alternative of an terrible time for a bye, it’s fairly near good.
Week 12 playoff implications
Thursday
Buffalo at Houston: The Payments are in fine condition so long as Josh Allen is at quarterback however the Texans can’t afford to drop underneath .500.
Sunday
Pittsburgh at Chicago: Leaders of the AFC North and NFC North and there’s no proof both is a certain factor or the postseason. Wrist damage to Aaron Rodgers doesn’t assist.
Indianapolis at Kansas Metropolis: The Colts at plus-115 have the largest scoring differential within the NFL. With the Chiefs at .500, can be wonderful in the event that they didn’t make the playoffs in any respect. They’re overdue for that form of 12 months.
Tampa Bay at L.A. Rams: The Bucs have crushed the 49ers and the Rams have break up with them. Baker Mayfield may do the 49ers a strong with a win right here.
Monday
Carolina at 49ers: Bryce Younger shredded Atlanta for 448 yards in an additional time win and with Jacoby Brissett having simply thrown for 457 towards the 49ers, anticipate the Panthers to go uptop early and infrequently.
Week 12 byes: Denver, Miami, L.A. Chargers, Washington
