If the 49ers have any hopes of a bye week in the playoffs, they’ll need to beat the Eagles.
The 49ers are aware of the implications of their Week 13 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s been less than a year since the Eagles knocked Brock Purdy and the Niners, in a literal and figurative sense, out of the playoffs.
We’ve gone through the playoff standings for this week. If the playoffs started today, the Niners would host Josh Dobbs and the Vikings. But their eyes are on a bigger prize. According to the New York Times playoff simulator, the chances of being the No. 1 seed are 20 percent as of today. ESPN’s Analytics has the same odds.
A loss to the Eagles this Sunday drops that number to one percent, while a win more than doubles the likelihood of a bye week to 40 percent.
A No. 2 seed means you’re playing one of the Vikings, Rams, Seahawks, or Packers. So, not the most daunting of tasks, but a week of rest and off your feet means much more.
If the 49ers run the table, which isn’t far-fetched, they have an 83 percent chance of having a bye week. Let’s say they slip up against the Ravens but win the rest of their games. San Francisco would then need the Eagles to lose two more games down the stretch.
Philadelphia plays Dallas, but, outside of that, they’re at Seattle, host the Giants and Cardinals, before traveling to the Giants. Basically, the 49ers can’t afford to lose. But they know that. And you can see it in the team’s execution since the bye week.
Deebo Samuel, Kyle Shanahan, and an unnamed player have all been vocal about their disdain for the Eagles or their experience at their stadium. When asked whether he regrets calling James Bradberry “trash” last year on Monday, Deebo said, “I don’t regret nothing I say.”
Trent Williams has been around the block a few times. He told reporters on Thursday night that this was “just another game. Obviously, a lot of people are going to be looking forward to it because of how last year ended, but I don’t think last year has anything to do with next week.”
From the revenge factor to the playoff seeding, Sunday is more than just another game for the 49ers.
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