The defending NFC Champions haven’t been quite as dominant in 2024.
Injuries have played a role in a disappointing season so far for the , who entered Week 15 just below .500 with a 6-7 record. On the offensive side of the ball alone, running back Christian McCaffrey, his backup Jordan Mason, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk are all out of action after significant injuries.
Even so, San Fransisco still had a chance to make the playoffs, but that took a serious hit after Thursday’s 12-6 loss to the Rams.
49ers playoff picture
San Fransisco was headed in the right direction, coming off a 38-13 win over the Bears last week. Before then, though, the 49ers had lost three consecutive games, putting their playoff outlook in a bad spot, which only got worse with Thursday’s loss to Los Angeles.
In the updated NFC playoff picture following Sunday of Week 15, San Fransisco is still on the outside looking in. Thursday’s loss made every future 49ers game a must-win, as the margin for error is basically zero at this point.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Lions | 12-2 |
| 2 | Eagles | 12-2 |
| 3 | Buccaneers | 8-6 |
| 4 | Rams | 8-6 |
| 5 | Vikings | 11-2 |
| 6 | Packers | 10-4 |
| 7 | Commanders | 9-5 |
| 8 | Seahawks | 8-6 |
| 9 | Cardinals | 7-7 |
| 10 | Falcons | 6-7 |
| 11 | 49ers | 6-8 |
| 12 | Cowboys | 6-8 |
| 13 | Saints | 5-9 |
| 14 | Bears | 4-9 |
| 15 | Panthers | 3-11 |
Heading into Thursday’s game, the 49ers were in last place in the NFC West but tied with Arizona, one game behind Los Angeles and two games behind Seattle.
A two-game difference would be difficult for San Fransisco to overcome in its division, but no matter how it could potentially reach the playoffs, that’s the deficit it was facing. The final NFC wild-card team right now, the Commanders, now has a three-game lead over the 49ers with three weeks remaining.
With the Vikings steamrolling toward one of the wild-card spots and the Packers not far behind, the only position that seems to be up for grabs over the final stretch is the Commanders’ current No. 7 spot. With limited time to make a comeback, the 49ers need to start winning games in order to have an outside chance.
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49ers remaining schedule
The 49ers have one divisional matchup remaining after Thursday’s matchup against the Rams.
Otherwise, San Fransisco gets two challenging opponents over the final stretch: the Lions and Dolphins. While Detroit has already locked in a playoff spot as a Super Bowl contender, Miami is still in the race for an AFC wild-card spot.
Here’s a full look at San Fransisco’s final three games to end the regular season:
| Date | Matchup | Opponent’s current record | Time (ET) |
| Dec. 12 | vs. Rams | 8-6 | 8:15 p.m. |
| Dec. 22 | at Dolphins | 6-8 | 4:25 p.m. |
| Dec. 30 | vs. Lions | 12-2 | 8:15 p.m. |
| TBD | at Cardinals | 7-7 | TBD |
49ers updated playoff chances
gives San Fransisco a 10.7% chance of making the playoffs entering Week 15, including an 8.6% chance to win the NFC West. However, after Thursday’s loss, the 49ers chances fell to just 0.5%.
