Six of the seven playoff teams in each conference are locked in, what remains now is two games next week to determine which division winner will advance from the AFC North and the NFC South. The Pittsburgh Steelers loss today, coupled with the Baltimore Ravens win last night in Green Bay, puts their division title and a playoff berth on the line next Sunday in Pittsburgh.
In the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, who both lost today, will decide who advances when they meet next week in Carolina.
What did get settled by today’s early results is the Los Angeles Rams are out of the competition for the NFC top seed. That possibility for the team many think is the best in football was erased with the Seahawks win in Carolina. While the Rams are out, three NFC teams still have a chance for the top spot, the Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears.
For the Bears to earn the opening week playoff bye they need to beat the 49ers tonight and the Detroit Lions next week while the 49ers upend the Seahawks next Sunday. For the 49ers to capture the top spot, they need to beat Chicago tonight and the Seahawks next Sunday. All that remains for Seattle to capture the opening week playoff bye is to win next week in San Francisco.
First things first.
It wasn’t until last week that the serious possibility of the 49ers capturing the top seed gained public attention. Up until that revaluation, it was assumed that either the Rams or Seahawks were destined to claim the top spot.
Then, the Seahawks beat the Rams and the Niners just keep winning, they come into action tonight against the Bears on a five game winning streak. Two more, and they end the year number one in the NFC.
Not an easy task.
Turns out the Bears have just as much to play for tonight as the home team. They need to win and get help to earn the number one seed while the 49ers and Seahawks control their own destiny.
Chicago is a great story by rising from a last place finish in the NFC North last season to the title this year. First-year head coach Ben Johnson has been all that was advertised when he left the offensive coordinator job in Detroit to lead the up-and-coming Bears. His coaching of second-year signal caller Caleb Williams has been exemplary, and the Bears defense has done enough to win them a number of close games.
They are in for a tough test tonight in Santa Clara.
Chicago is coming off a highly emotional come-from-behind win over the Green Bay Packers and locked up the division title last night by virtue of their primary division rivals losing at home to John Harbaugh’s squad.
The 49ers success can be attributed to coaching and the old next man up theory. The 49ers have overcome the loss of their starting quarterback for eight games and injuries that sidelined their two best defensive players, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
But the time Brock Purdy spent on the sidelines offered Mac Jones an opportunity to show his skill and no doubt earn him a big contract when his pact with the 49ers is completed. And perhaps because Purdy was sidelined with the toe injury, he is now healthier and quicker than he may have been if he would have been absorbing punishment on the field for the eight weeks he recuperated.
Last Monday night in Indianapolis, the 49ers offense looked unstoppable. No doubt the Bears defense will provide stiffer competition, but a San Francisco win still seems likely. I may be a bit cautious here, but I’m not excited about laying a point spread that has grown to 3½ points.
Still, you want a lean, I’m siding with the home team tonight.