The San Francisco 49ers won two consecutive NFC West titles from 2022-2023, but an injury-riddled season dropped them to fourth place in 2024. They found themselves on the brink of going back to the top of the division in 2025. But they fell just short, succumbing to a defensive masterclass at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.
The consequence of the result is a jarring one. San Francisco is now tasked with traveling to Philadelphia to take on the NFC East division winner in the wild-card round.
Here's an updated look at the 49ers’ division-winning outlook going into Week 18 of the 2025 NFL regular season:
LIVE: Updated NFL playoff picture for Week 18
NFL playoff bracket 2026
Here's a look at the current potential initial matchups for this year's playoffs (last updated 4:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 4)
NFL playoffs bracket 2026
Wild-card round
AFC
1. Denver Broncos (BYE)
2. New England Patriots vs. 7. Los Angeles Chargers
3. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 6. Buffalo Bills
4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. 5. Houston Texans
NFC
1. Seattle Seahawks (BYE)
2. Chicago Bears vs. 7. Green Bay Packers
3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 6. San Francisco 49ers
4. Carolina Panthers vs. 5. Los Angeles Rams
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49ers playoff picture
With their loss against the Seahawks, the 49ers were the No. 5 seed in the NFC. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, though, and this gave the 49ers and Rams the same record. Los Angeles wins the tiebreaker and is the No. 5 seed, solidifying the No. 6 seed for San Francisco.
The wild-card round is a place in which the 49ers have familiarized themselves, albeit in a far less common extent. They've been a wild-card team once in their four previous playoff trips with Shanahan. In 2021, they lost to the NFC West and eventual Super Bowl 56 champion Rams in the conference championship game.
Seed Team Record
1 Seattle Seahawks* 14-3
2 Chicago Bears* 11-6
3 Philadelphia Eagles* 11-6
4 Carolina Panthers* 8-9
5 Los Angeles Rams* 12-5
6 San Francisco 49ers* 12-5
7 Green Bay Packers* 9-7-1
8 Minnesota Vikings - eliminated 9-8
9 Detroit Lions - eliminated 9-8
10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-9
11 Atlanta Falcons - eliminated 8-9
12 Dallas Cowboys - eliminated 7-9-1
13 New Orleans Saints - eliminated 6-11
14 Washington Commanders - eliminated 5-12
15 New York Giants - eliminated 4-13
16 Arizona Cardinals - eliminated 3-14
*=clinched playoff spot
MORE: 2025 Fantasy Football Awards
NFC West standings
The 49ers finish the season with a 12-5 record, an undoubtedly impressive mark — but not good enough for top billing in their division.
Rank Team Record
1 Seattle Seahawks 14-3
2 Los Angeles Rams 12-5
3 San Francisco 49ers 12-5
4 Arizona Cardinals - eliminated 3-13
49ers clinching scenarios
With San Francisco falling to Seattle on Saturday and Los Angeles beating Arizona on Sunday, the 49ers are locked into the No. 6 seed for the NFC.