Playoff Picture: Where the 49ers stand ahead of Week 18 finale vs. Cardinals

The San Francisco 49ers still have something to play for in their regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. They look to hold onto the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture after moving up a spot courtesy of a Minnesota Vikings loss to the Green Bay Packers.

In addition, San Francisco has a chance to earn the top spot and home-field advantage throughout the postseason should the Philadelphia Eagles lose their third consecutive game. They will host the New York Giants in Week 18.

“Our first goal is to get in the playoffs,” head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the 49ers’ 37-34 overtime win over the Las Vegas Raiders. “… Once you get there, you always have a chance for your ultimate goal. And everything about once you do get there is positioning yourself the best way you can.”

San Francisco won’t take its foot off the gas as it looks to put itself in the best position possible and win its 10th consecutive game.

If the season ended today, the 49ers would be preparing to host their division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, at Levi’s Stadium in the Wildcard round. San Francisco swept Seattle in the regular season, last beating the NFC West foe 21-13 in Week 15. However, the 49ers are 2-4 against the Seahawks over the past three seasons and 4-8 since Shanahan took over as head coach.

Note

There is some confusion over the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture. The Packers can take over the spot with a win over the Detroit Lions in Week 18. The Seahawks currently own the No. 7 seed and need to win and have the Lions beat the Packers in Week 18. While the Packers own the tiebreaker (conference record) over the Seahawks, the Seahawks own the tiebreaker (head-to-head) over the Lions. The Lions currently own the division tiebreaker (head-to-head) over the Packers. That makes it a Seahawks-Lions-Packers order in the playoff standings as of today.

Current NFC Playoff Standings

1. * Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
2. * San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
3. * Minnesota Vikings (12-4)
4. * Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
5. * Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
6. * New York Giants (9-6-1)
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)

* Clinched playoff spot
Division leaders in bold

Below are the teams that would be on the outside looking in if the season ended today.

• Detroit Lions (8-8)
• Green Bay Packers (8-8)

Below are the Wildcard matchups if the season ended today. The Eagles would await the weakest-seeded winner to emerge from the first round of games.

1. Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
2. New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings
3. Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

No. 1 Seed Clinching Scenarios

Eagles can clinch the top seed in the NFC with:

1. Win vs. Giants or
2. Cowboys loss at Commanders + a 49ers loss vs. Cardinals

49ers can clinch the top seed in the NFC with:

1. Win vs. Cardinals + Eagles loss vs. Giants

Cowboys can clinch the top seed in the NFC with:

1. Win at Commanders + Eagles loss vs. Giants + 49ers loss vs. Cardinals