The 49ers’ stumble into the bye week that featured three consecutive losses turned the second half of their schedule into a much more daunting slate.
San Francisco from Week 10 on was always going to have a tough road with several games against playoff teams and a couple more against potential playoff teams. However, after Week 5 it looked like the 49ers would steamroll any team in the league save for a select few like Philadelphia and Kansas City.
Now they look far more beatable and capable of losing a few games down the stretch which could launch them not only out of consideration for the No. 1 seed, but out of the playoffs entirely.
Every NFC West or conference game is going to matter for possible tiebreakers. Being good within the division and within the NFC will be crucial. We removed that criteria though to pick out the five biggest games of the nine left on the 49ers’ schedule:
Week 10 at Jacksonville Jaguars
The 49ers need to get their defense right and the Jaguars with quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be a terrific test. San Francisco needs to not only win, but to also show signs of the team they were in the first five games. If they lose a fourth consecutive game coming out of the bye week, it could be a sign that the 49ers are en route to somehow missing the playoffs.
Week 12 at Seattle Seahawks
There’s not a bigger game on the 49ers’ entire schedule than this one (except for maybe the second Seattle game). They’ll be heading up to visit the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football in a game that will have a ton of consequences for the playoff picture and the division. Barring a situation where one team wins its next two and one team loses its next two, the winner of the Week 12 matchup will have the edge atop the NFC West.
Week 13 at Philadelphia Eagles
The good news is the 49ers have a mini bye before this game since they’re coming off a Thursday night game. The bad news is the Eagles are a vastly superior team based on the three most recent 49ers showings. If San Francisco rolls into this one on a three-game win streak, it becomes a fascinating battle with major No. 1 seed implications. If the 49ers continue to struggle, this will be a game they might need just to stay afloat in the playoff picture.
Week 14 vs. Seattle Seahawks
If everything goes right for the 49ers this game could ultimately wrap up the division. They could have a chance to secure the head-to-head tiebreaker and grab a multi-game lead in the division. It’ll at least be an opportunity to gain a game in the division if they’re behind entering Week 14. There are a couple scenarios where some of the sheen comes off this game, but it’s a disaster scenario for either club that isn’t liable to play out. Barring that catastrophe where one of the teams loses every game entering this game, this should feel like a playoff game.
Week 16 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Speaking of games that should feel like playoff games, there’s a chance that if the 49ers get right we’re looking at a Super Bowl preview on Christmas night. With games in Washington and home against the Rams to close the year, Baltimore is likely the last playoff team on the 49ers’ schedule, and perhaps one last measuring stick game before the playoffs.
