San Francisco will try to secure a home-field playoff edge into the Super Bowl as two top seeds and two playoff berths will be decided on the final weekend of the NFL campaign.
Watch an average 6 games per week and every game of the NFL Postseason, LIVE with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Since clubs began pre-season camps last July, their goal has been to capture a playoff spot and a chance to play in next month’s NFL championship spectacle at the 49ers’ home venue, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
San Francisco (12-4) plays host to Seattle (13-3) on Sunday with the winner capturing the NFC top seed, a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage throughout the post-season.
Beating the Seahawks means the 49ers would be only two home playoff triumphs from playing in the Super Bowl on their home field.
It is an incredible turnaround for one of the most injury-riddled teams in the NFL this season.
On offence, quarterback Brock Purdy missed a large chunk of the season while top receiving weapons George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall have missed time. There were hopes Brandon Aiyuk may return mid-season, but instead he has been sidelined all year and looks to have played his last game for the 49ers.
Meanwhile, on defence the 49ers have been down both star linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa.
“Back when Fred got hurt, if you told anybody we’d be 12-4 and be battling Week 18 for that one seed, you’re absolutely crazy,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said earlier in the week.
“Nobody would’ve believed you. So it’s been a special season already, and one I definitely don’t take for granted. But we’re not done. I have all the confidence in the world that we can get this thing done.”
Allen misses chance to ice Eagles | 03:13
The AFC playoff top seed will be determined on Monday with Denver (13-3) taking the spot with a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5).
Should the Broncos lose, the door is open for the New England Patriots, who would then have to beat Miami (7-9) to swipe the top seed.
If Denver and New England are both beaten, the Jacksonville Jaguars would capture the top seed with a victory over Tennessee (3-13).
The last playoff berth in each conference is up for grabs also with the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) at Pittsburgh (9-7) and the winner seizing the final AFC playoff berth and the AFC North division title for a fourth seeding and first-round home game.
It’s slightly more complicated in the NFC, where Carolina (8-8) will visit Tampa Bay (7-9) on Sunday in the pivotal contest to decide the NFC South crown and a playoff spot.
Carolina clinches the playoff berth with a victory while the Buccaneers will not necessarily claim the post-season spot with a triumph.
Tampa Bay would also need Atlanta (7-9) to lose or draw at home against New Orleans (6-10) on Sunday.
Wins by Tampa Bay and Atlanta would create a three-team logjam at 8-9 that would be decided by a head-to-head results tie-breaker — which would send Carolina into the playoffs even with a defeat.
Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, the Los Angeles Rams, reigning champion Philadelphia and Green Bay have taken NFC playoff spots.
AFC post-season qualifiers include New England, Buffalo, Denver, Jacksonville, Houston and the Chargers.
Discussion about this post