The NFL is the ultimate week-to-week league. Things change in an instant. For the San Francisco 49ers, the bye week was kind as the team moved into the sixth seed with the Bears’ loss to the Packers. Possible reinforcements are on the way for the 49ers (no, not Brandon Aiyuk), and the team is in the best shape possible health-wise for their final four games. The 49ers’ final four opponents are the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and the Seattle Seahawks in the season finale at Levi’s Stadium.
But the outlook for the final four opponents has changed. The Titans are fighting for the first pick in the NFL draft, and the 49ers opened as 12.5-point favorites. Now, the Monday Night Football matchup with the Colts looks drastically different following Daniel Jones’ Achilles injury. The Colts had cooled off considerably, even after a trade for young star cornerback Sauce Gardner, but Riley Leonard will finish out the season as the Colts’ quarterback. No game in the NFL is a layup, but this changes things outlook-wise.
Depending on tonight’s outcome between Philadelphia and the Chargers, the 49ers could move closer to securing the NFC’s number one seed. Currently, the 49ers have an 18% chance of winning the NFC West after Seattle and Los Angeles both won on Sunday. The Rams have Detroit this week, and the Seahawks get Leonard and the Colts. If the Lions knock off the Rams, Los Angeles’ NFC West dreams (39% chance with a loss) take a big hit with a Seattle victory.
The 49ers have to win out to have a chance at the division. The Rams have Detroit, Seattle on TNF, Atlanta, and Arizona. Seattle has the Colts, the Rams, Carolina, and the Niners. If the Rams lose to Seattle, and the 49ers win out and hand Seattle their only loss in the four-game stretch, all three teams will finish at 13-4, but the 49ers will take the NFC West crown by virtue of tiebreakers and divisional record.
It’s not far-fetched for the 49ers. The bye week has come at the best time for the team, giving them a chance to reset for the stretch run and rest their aches and bruises before the games get bigger and the lights get brighter. The 49ers have been battle-tested in past seasons and especially this season with all the adversity thrown their way. The tried-and-true method of experience will be invaluable over the next four weeks.
About the Author: Insidethe49
