2023-2024 NFC Playoff Picture Thread

Originally posted by SLCNiner:
I think I'm with you. Obviously I'd love to have the 1st round bye above all else, but if we get the 2 I'm not mad at all. I'd rather not have to face both Dallas and Philly in the playoffs. Last year, the Vikings royally screwed us by losing to the Giants and forcing us to have to play both, but hopefully this year is different.

The same thing could happen this year though.

For example, if the playoffs started today we'd be the 2 seed with a matchup against the Vikings. 3 seed Detroit would play 6 seed Seattle and 4 seed Falcons would play the Cowboys.

All goes to chalk, you'd expect Niners, Lions, and Cowboys to advance… giving us Lions @ home and the Cowboys @ Eagles which would be viewed as a harder matchup for the 1 seed.

The problem though is that potential 3-6 matchup with the Lions and Seahawks. Everyone believes the Lions are better than the Hawks but the Hawks have beat them 5-6 straight times, including this season and last. They win that game and you're back to a second round Cowboys/Niners game.

Let's just win every game we can because a bye week, and HFA on the way to the Super Bowl is the best possible outcome regardless of potential matchups.

Originally posted by billbird2111:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
good thread

playoff machine is LIVE

https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

Poor George Michael. Never received the credit he deserved for inventing the George Michael Sports Machine.

gotta have Faith

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by SLCNiner:
I think I'm with you. Obviously I'd love to have the 1st round bye above all else, but if we get the 2 I'm not mad at all. I'd rather not have to face both Dallas and Philly in the playoffs. Last year, the Vikings royally screwed us by losing to the Giants and forcing us to have to play both, but hopefully this year is different.

The same thing could happen this year though.

For example, if the playoffs started today we'd be the 2 seed with a matchup against the Vikings. 3 seed Detroit would play 6 seed Seattle and 4 seed Falcons would play the Cowboys.

All goes to chalk, you'd expect Niners, Lions, and Cowboys to advance… giving us Lions @ home and the Cowboys @ Eagles which would be viewed as a harder matchup for the 1 seed.

The problem though is that potential 3-6 matchup with the Lions and Seahawks. Everyone believes the Lions are better than the Hawks but the Hawks have beat them 5-6 straight times, including this season and last. They win that game and you're back to a second round Cowboys/Niners game.

Let's just win every game we can because a bye week, and HFA on the way to the Super Bowl is the best possible outcome regardless of potential matchups.

Yeah I get that, right now best thing is to just try getting the best seed possible and let the rest of the chips fall where they may. I really think our only shot at the #1 is if we beat Philly Sunday and then Dallas gets them the following week. Obviously we'd have to win out in addition to that, but I think we will barring injuries.

We beat everybody if we're healthy so getting the first round bye is ideal no matter who we play after that

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by SLCNiner:
I think I'm with you. Obviously I'd love to have the 1st round bye above all else, but if we get the 2 I'm not mad at all. I'd rather not have to face both Dallas and Philly in the playoffs. Last year, the Vikings royally screwed us by losing to the Giants and forcing us to have to play both, but hopefully this year is different.

The same thing could happen this year though.

For example, if the playoffs started today we'd be the 2 seed with a matchup against the Vikings. 3 seed Detroit would play 6 seed Seattle and 4 seed Falcons would play the Cowboys.

All goes to chalk, you'd expect Niners, Lions, and Cowboys to advance… giving us Lions @ home and the Cowboys @ Eagles which would be viewed as a harder matchup for the 1 seed.

The problem though is that potential 3-6 matchup with the Lions and Seahawks. Everyone believes the Lions are better than the Hawks but the Hawks have beat them 5-6 straight times, including this season and last. They win that game and you're back to a second round Cowboys/Niners game.

Let's just win every game we can because a bye week, and HFA on the way to the Super Bowl is the best possible outcome regardless of potential matchups.

You are absolutely right, but the probability of Detroit and Dallas advancing is much higher than Seattle and Dallas. A Minn / Det / Philly road to the SB is a much easier ask than a bye / Dallas / Philly one…

Originally posted by DrEll:
You are absolutely right, but the probability of Detroit and Dallas advancing is much higher than Seattle and Dallas. A Minn / Det / Philly road to the SB is a much easier ask than a bye / Dallas / Philly one…

I just can't agree with that conclusion. Greater risk of injury and definitely less probability of winning on the road in the championship after an 'extra' playoff game. I agree with the general idea that if we're healthy at the key positions we're the best team in the NFL. No need to avoid a potential matchup with the Cowboys and sacrifice rest and HFA against another elite team to do it.

The Ravens game will be tough. We usually have a hard time with mobile QB's. And Lamar is on a completely different level when it comes to being mobile. So even if we beat the eagles, we would still have to beat the Ravens. I'm not that confident we can beat both. That would mean Eagles would need to lose to us, cowboys and another game.

Originally posted by Bay2Bay9erAllday:
The Ravens game will be tough. We usually have a hard time with mobile QB's. And Lamar is on a completely different level when it comes to being mobile. So even if we beat the eagles, we would still have to beat the Ravens. I'm not that confident we can beat both. That would mean Eagles would need to lose to us, cowboys and another game.

Without Andrews Ravens are a different passing team. If they can contain the run they have a great shot.

Originally posted by Bay2Bay9erAllday:
The Ravens game will be tough. We usually have a hard time with mobile QB's. And Lamar is on a completely different level when it comes to being mobile. So even if we beat the eagles, we would still have to beat the Ravens. I'm not that confident we can beat both. That would mean Eagles would need to lose to us, cowboys and another game.

Thankfully we get them at home.

I look ahead just like everybody else but the reality is any of these games could be wins or losses. Jalen Hurts could blow his knee out next week and all projections change.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by Bay2Bay9erAllday:
The Ravens game will be tough. We usually have a hard time with mobile QB's. And Lamar is on a completely different level when it comes to being mobile. So even if we beat the eagles, we would still have to beat the Ravens. I'm not that confident we can beat both. That would mean Eagles would need to lose to us, cowboys and another game.

Thankfully we get them at home.

I look ahead just like everybody else but the reality is any of these games could be wins or losses. Jalen Hurts could blow his knee out next week and all projections change.

This exactly how I feel. So many variables with lots of football left to be played.

niners just gotta take care of business

Here we go again with matching up against certain teams.

You play the game to get the bye and it still holds true. One week of rest does wonders no matter who you match up against.

So if Seattle loses tonight, and Niners beat the Eagles on Sunday, Niners can clinch the nfc west with a win over Seattle next week?

Originally posted by RiceOwensStokes:
So if Seattle loses tonight, and Niners beat the Eagles on Sunday, Niners can clinch the nfc west with a win over Seattle next week?

Rams would need one more loss, but pretty much.

Despite all my researching and hypothesizing, I still can't ascertain whether a Dallas or Seattle loss is better for SF.

In terms of division, of course, Seattle. But depending on how things shake out in the subsequent games, it feels impossible to know which is more advantageous for our beloved Niners.

Originally posted by NinerPrideinNJ:
Despite all my researching and hypothesizing, I still can't ascertain whether a Dallas or Seattle loss is better for SF.

In terms of division, of course, Seattle. But depending on how things shake out in the subsequent games, it feels impossible to know which is more advantageous for our beloved Niners.

Feel like it's easily a Cowboys win.

We want them to win the East. Them beating the Seahawks helps us in division (tho we prob don't need it).