Skip to main content

CSN Bay Area

HOME  >  NEWS  >  SPORTS
49ers dilemma: Root for or against Seahawks?
Share This Post
Comments
Sunday, December 22, 2013 - 9:30am
Follow @maioccocsn

Programming note: Immediately following the conclusion of Monday night's 49ers-Falcons game, change the channel to CSN Bay Area for 49ers Postgame Live. 

The 49ers could be guaranteed a spot as an NFC wild-card team before the end of Sunday.

But, if that were to happen, the 49ers (10-4) would no longer have any mathematical chance at winning the NFC West and achieving a first-round bye in the playoffs.

If the Seattle Seahawks (12-2) defeat the Arizona Cardinals (9-5) on Sunday, the Seahawks would clinch the NFC West title and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. But it would also knock the Cardinals from playoff contention and wrap up a postseason bid for the 49ers.

If the Cardinals defeat the Seahawks, the 49ers can still wrap up a spot in the playoffs with a victory Monday night over the Atlanta Falcons.

The 49ers can win the NFC West and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs if Seattle loses both games to finish the season – home games against Arizona and the St. Louis Rams – and the 49ers win both games, including the finale at Arizona.

If the 49ers win their final two games and Seattle wins at least one of its final two games, the 49ers would be the No. 5 seed in the playoffs and would open the postseason on Jan. 4 or 5 at the winner of either the NFC East or NFC North.

The 49ers would miss out on the playoffs only if they lose their final two games and the Cardinals win both games.

Here are the complete NFL playoff scenarios entering Sunday’s games:

NFC 
Seahawks have already clinched playoff spot
49ers: Clinch a playoff spot with win; OR Cardinals loss; OR 49ers tie and Cardinals tie. 
Seahawks: Clinch NFC West division and home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with win or tie; OR a 49ers loss or tie. 
Saints: Clinch NFC South division and a first-round bye with a win. Clinches playoff spot with Cardinals loss; OR Saints tie and a 49ers loss or tie; OR Saints tie and Cardinals tie; OR 49ers loss and Cardinals tie. 
Panthers: Clinch a playoff spot with Panthers win; OR Panthers tie and Cardinals loss; OR Panthers tie and 49ers loss; OR Cardinals loss and 49ers loss. 
Eagles: Clinch NFC East division with win and Cowboys loss or tie; OR Eagles tie and Cowboys loss. 
Bears: Clinch NFC North division with win and Lions loss or tie and Packers loss.

AFC 
Broncos, Chiefs and Colts (AFC South winner) have already clinched playoff spots 
Broncos: Clinched playoff spot. Clinch AFC West and first-round bye with win and Chiefs loss. Clinch home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with win, Chiefs loss and Patriots loss or tie. 
Patriots: Clinch AFC East with win or tie; OR Dolphins loss or tie. Clinch first-round bye with win, Bengals loss or tie and Colts loss or tie; OR Patriots tie, Bengals loss and Colts loss. Clinch playoff spot with Bengals loss or tie. 
Bengals: Clinch AFC North with win and Ravens loss or tie; OR Bengals tie and Ravens loss. Clinch playoff spot with Bengals win and Dolphins loss or tie; OR Bengals tie and Dolphins loss. 
Ravens: Clinch playoff spot with win, Dolphins loss and Chargers loss or tie. 
Dolphins: Clinch playoff spot with win, Ravens loss, Bengals loss.

NBCBayArea.com

There is no data to display.

Video

Inside The Paint: Bogut made it his mission to grab every rebound
Highlights: Kings pull out 105-100 win over Magic
Highlights: Thornton's goal lifts Sharks to shootout win
McLellan on Thornton: 'That's what you expect from your captain'

Giants

Giants agree to send Pill to Korean team
Check out the scooter-riding bobble
Giants DFA Surkamp, officially add Morse, Vogelsong
Giants poised to sell Brett Pill's rights to Korean club
Read More

Athletics

Report: Choo agrees to seven-year deal with Rangers
Balfour may file grievance against Orioles
Report: Twins agree to deal with Kurt Suzuki
A's, Barton agree on one-year deal to avoid arbitration
Read More

Sharks

Stalock may be in line for more playing time
Sharks find success with new lines against Dallas
Reluctant shooter Thornton keys win over Stars
Instant Replay: Sharks save Stalock, beat Stars 3-2 in SO
Read More

49ers

Panthers exact revenge on Saints, in control for Top 2 seed
49ers dilemma: Root for or against Seahawks?
DeBartolo to serve as honorary captain at Candlestick farewell
Iupati, Manningham questionable for Candlestick finale
Read More

Raiders

Manning breaks Brady's record, Broncos clinch bye
LIVE: Raiders vs. Chargers
McFadden, Walker active vs. Chargers
Turnovers weighing down offensive progress
Read More

Warriors

Warriors Rewind: Valuable lesson learned in win over Lakers
Instant Replay: Warriors coast to win over short-handed Lakers
Warriors try to avoid losing another 'winnable' game
Warriors recall rookie guard Nedovic
Read More

NCAA

Stauskas leads Michigan to win over Stanford
USC routs No. 21 Fresno St 45-20 in Las Vegas Bowl
32 from Ogwumike leads Stanford past Tennessee
Stanford goes on road and stuns No. 10 UConn
Read More
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLB Standings
  • Buy Giants Gear
  • Buy Giants Tickets
  • Amy G.
  • Insider Andrew Baggarly

Latest News

Giants agree to send Pill to Korean team
(10)
CSN Bay Area staff

More Stories

Check out the scooter-riding bobble
Giants DFA Surkamp, officially add Morse, Vogelsong
(8)
See more >

GIANTS VIDEO

Duane Kuiper gets sandwich named after him
Duane Kuiper gets sandwich named after him
See more >

GIANTS TALK

Giants poised to sell Brett Pill's rights to Korean club
Report: Rakuten will not allow Masahiro Tanaka to come to U.S.

GIANTS INSIDER

There is no data to display.

  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLB Standings
  • Buy Athletics Gear
  • Buy Athletics Tickets

Latest News

Report: Choo agrees to seven-year deal with Rangers
(1)
Associated Press

More Stories

Balfour may file grievance against Orioles
(2)
Report: Twins agree to deal with Kurt Suzuki
See more >

A's VIDEO

Report: Lacob, Guber interested in purchasing A's
Report: Lacob, Guber interested in purchasing A's
See more >

A's TALK

A's, Barton agree on one-year deal to avoid arbitration
Balfour's deal with Orioles falls through
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NHL Standings
  • Buy Sharks Gear
  • Buy Sharks Tickets
  • Insider Kevin Kurz

Latest News

Stalock may be in line for more playing time
(2)
Kevin Kurz

More Stories

Sharks find success with new lines against Dallas
(1)
Reluctant shooter Thornton keys win over Stars
(3)
See more >

SHARKS VIDEO

Highlights: Thornton's goal lifts Sharks to shootout win
Highlights: Thornton's goal lifts Sharks to shootout win
See more >

Features

Instant Replay: Sharks save Stalock, beat Stars 3-2 in SO
Stalock set for first career home start

SHARKS INSIDER

  • James level-headed as playoff debut approaches
  • Akers reflects on disappointing season
  • 49ers Notes: Goodwin not worried about fumbles
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NBA Standings
  • Buy Warriors Gear
  • Buy Warriors Tickets

Latest News

Warriors Rewind: Valuable lesson learned in win over Lakers
(3)
Monte Poole

More Stories

Instant Replay: Warriors coast to win over short-handed Lakers
(5)
Warriors try to avoid losing another 'winnable' game
(3)
See more >

WARRIORS VIDEO

Inside The Paint: Bogut made it his mission to grab every rebound
Inside The Paint: Bogut made it his mission to grab every rebound
See more >

Features

Warriors recall rookie guard Nedovic
Struggles of Barnes, Thompson hurting Warriors

MONTE POOLE

There is no data to display.

  • PRO BASKETBALL TALK
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NBA Standings
  • Buy Kings Gear
  • Buy Kings Tickets

Latest News

Thomas, Gay each score 23 as Kings beat Magic
(5)
Associated Press

More Stories

Magic get leading scorer Afflalo back vs. Kings
(2)
LeBron, Heat overwhelm Cousins, Kings 122-103
(2)
See more >

Watch

Highlights: Kings pull out 105-100 win over Magic
Highlights: Kings pull out 105-100 win over Magic
See more >

Features

Jordan, Clippers spoil Anthony Davis' return
Kings fail to defend Korver, fall to Hawks in Atlanta

Fantasy Hoops

  • The Daily Dose: Dose: Durant's Triple-double
  • PRO BASKETBALL TALK
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NFL Standings
  • Buy 49ers Tickets
  • Buy 49ers Gear
  • Insider Matt Maiocco

Latest News

Panthers exact revenge on Saints, in control for Top 2 seed
(1)
Associated Press

More Stories

49ers dilemma: Root for or against Seahawks?
(21)
DeBartolo to serve as honorary captain at Candlestick farewell
(4)
See more >

49ers VIDEO

McDonald: 'Our pass rush can still improve'
McDonald: 'Our pass rush can still improve'
See more >

WEEKLY REWIND

Rewind: 49ers handle business with 33-14 thumping of Bucs
(26)
Matt Maiocco

49ers INSIDER

  • DeBartolo to serve as honorary captain at Candlestick farewell
  • Iupati, Manningham questionable for Candlestick finale
  • Falcons-49ers matchup No. 3: Holmes vs. Smith
  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • NFL Standings
  • Buy Raiders Tickets
  • Buy Raiders Gear
  • Insider Scott Bair

Latest News

Manning breaks Brady's record, Broncos clinch bye
(1)
Associated Press

More Stories

LIVE: Raiders vs. Chargers
McFadden, Walker active vs. Chargers
(1)
See more >

RAIDERS VIDEO

Three and Out: Turnovers skyrocketing; WRs shining; Walker practices
Three and Out: Turnovers skyrocketing; WRs shining; Walker practices
See more >

WEEKLY REWIND

Rewind: Raiders hit a wall in embarrassing loss to Chiefs
(32)
Scott Bair

RAIDERS INSIDER

There is no data to display.

  • Scoreboard
  • Stats
  • Schedule
  • Roster
  • MLS Standings
  • MLS Player Leaders
  • Buy Quakes Gear
  • Buy Quakes Tickets

Top Story

Who got off easy in the World Cup draw?
Associated Press

More Stories

US to play Ghana, Portugal, Germany at World Cup
World Cup stadium in Brazil partially collapses
See more >

Watch

Earthquakes beat FC Dallas 2-1, Corrales honored
Earthquakes beat FC Dallas 2-1, Corrales honored
See more >

Shop

ANDREW BAGGARLY

Giants DFA Surkamp, officially add Morse, Vogelsong
(8)
See more >

MONTE POOLE

Warriors Rewind: Valuable lesson learned in win over Lakers
(3)
See more >

MATT MAIOCCO

49ers dilemma: Root for or against Seahawks?
(21)
See more >

SCOTT BAIR

McFadden, Walker active vs. Chargers
(1)
See more >

KEVIN KURZ

Stalock may be in line for more playing time
(2)
See more >

CASEY PRATT

RAY RATTO

Popovich tests NBA brass again, gets no fine and a win

TOP STORIES

  • DeBartolo to serve as honorary captain at Candlestick farewell
  • Iupati, Manningham questionable for Candlestick finale
  • Kwame Harris gets jail time for assault

AFF

Enter here for the chance to win a pair of tickets to Authentic Fan Friday!

FOLLOW @CSNAUTHENTIC

@CSNAuthentic on Twitter

Facebook.com/CSNBayArea

CSN on Instagram

TEXT ALERTS

Be the first to know. Sign up for breaking news text alerts!

NCAA

Stanford goes on road and stuns No. 10 UConn
Epic tirade includes tax breaks, snipers and mama's boys

MORE

  • SaberCats
  • Preps
  • Biz Ball
  • Fight Sports
  • Motor Sports
  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Ray Ratto

 

 

TICKETS

  • Giants Tickets
  • A's Tickets
  • 49ers Tickets
  • Raiders Tickets
  • Warriors Tickets
  • Kings Tickets
  • Sharks Tickets
Curry Jersey
Giants Fitted Hat
49ers Hoodie

Mega Menu: Shop

  • Giants
  • A's Shop
  • 49ers
  • Raiders Shop
  • Warriors
  • Kings Shop
  • Sharks Shop

Mega Menu: Shop - Tickets

  • Giants Tickets
  • A's Tickets
  • 49ers Tickets
  • Raiders Tickets
  • Warriors Tickets
  • Kings Tickets
  • Sharks Tickets

Latest Videos

Inside The Paint: Bogut made it his mission to grab every rebound
Inside The Paint: Bogut made it his mission to grab every rebound
See more >

ONLINE SHOWS

  • Buster Knows Squat
  • Romo's Relief
  • Humm BB
  • Diamond Girls
  • Bullshootin'
  • Amy G.’s Exclusives
  • Learning with the Pros

TV SHOWS

  • All Videos
  • SportsNet Central
  • Yahoo! SportsTalk Live

INSIDERS

  • Ray Ratto - Senior Insider
  • Andrew Baggarly - Giants Insider
  • Matt Maiocco - 49ers Insider
  • Scott Bair - Raiders Insider
  • Kevin Kurz - Sharks Insider
  • Casey Pratt - Field of Teams
  • TV Schedule - Bay Area and California
  • Channel Locations - Bay Area
  • Channel Locations - California