The San Francisco 49ers are headed to the NFL playoffs, but after Saturday night’s 13-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, their Wild Card opponent, seed and kickoff slot are still in limbo heading into Sunday.
Here’s the pressure point: per NFL.com, the 49ers will land as the NFC’s No. 5 or No. 6 seed, and that swing comes down to Sunday’s Rams-Cardinals result.
Key details (quick answers)
- Wild Card Weekend: January 10-12
- 49ers seed: No. 5 if the Rams lose; No. 6 if the Rams win
- Why it matters: No. 5 likely draws the NFC South winner; No. 6 draws the NFC’s No. 3 seed
- Official game times: expected late Sunday night once the bracket is fully set
49ers’ Next Opponent: Who Will San Francisco Play in the NFL Playoffs?
The 49ers’ next opponent hinges on whether they finish No. 5 or No. 6.
If San Francisco is the No. 5 seed: the 49ers are lined up for a road trip to face the NFC South champion in the 4-vs-5 matchup.
If San Francisco is the No. 6 seed: the 49ers would instead head to face the NFC’s No. 3 seed, which Fox Sports noted will be either the Philadelphia Eagles or the Chicago Bears based on Sunday’s seeding results.
The NFC South piece is also still unsettled. Fox Sports laid out the chaos: if the Falcons win, the Panthers win the division; if the Saints win, the Buccaneers take it.
NFL Playoff Schedule: Wild Card Round Begins Saturday, Jan. 10
The NFL has already locked in the calendar: Wild Card Weekend runs Jan. 10-12, followed by the Divisional Round on Jan. 17-18 and conference title games on Jan. 25.
While the teams won’t be confirmed until Sunday night, the league is expected to drop the full playoff schedule late Sunday, likely during the weekend’s final game, once the last remaining seeds settle.
The time slots are basically set (the “who plays when” is what changes):
- Sat., Jan. 10: 4:30 p.m. ET, 8:15 p.m. ET
- Sun., Jan. 11: 1 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. ET, 8:15 p.m. ET
- Mon., Jan. 12: 8:15 p.m. ET
What Changed for the 49ers After the Seahawks Game
Seattle’s win did more than take the NFC West; it shoved San Francisco into “do it the hard way” mode. The Seahawks held the 49ers to three points and locked up the NFC’s No. 1 seed, while the 49ers finished 12-5 and now wait on Sunday’s ripple effects.
One more thing to watch before Wild Card Weekend: Brock Purdy’s shoulder. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Purdy took a hard hit on the final offensive play, and Kyle Shanahan called it a “stinger,” with Purdy saying his left shoulder “lit up” but that he felt OK afterward.
Beyond seeding, San Francisco’s biggest question is health. Purdy’s left-shoulder stinger will be the headline until the first practice report, especially with no bye week to heal. However, 49ers fans will be eager to see if Trent Williams makes his way back from a hamstring injury, and if Ricky Pearsall can take the field during the playoffs. Watching George Kittle’s ankle, too, will also be a top concern. The 49ers will also be watching their injury report closely for any late-season “limited” tags at skill positions and along the offensive line, the spots that determine whether they can win on the road in January.
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