If the 2025 NFL season ended right now, the 49ers would own the NFC’s No. 5 seed and head to Bank of America Stadium for a wild-card playoff game against the No. 4-seeded Carolina Panthers.
And, apparently, that would be music to 49ers fans’ ears.
After San Francisco officially clinched an NFL playoff spot over the weekend entering their eventual Week 16 win over the Indianapolis Colts, NBC Sports Bay Area asked the Faithful which team would be an ideal first-round matchup.
An overwhelming amount of 49ers fans — 52 percent — chose either the Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Philadelphia Eagles (18 percent), Green Bay Packers (18 percent) and Chicago Bears (12 percent).
The 49ers (11-4) defeated the Panthers in Week 12, though quarterback Brock Purdy threw three interceptions in the 20-9 victory. When Purdy was sidelined by a toe injury earlier in the season, San Francisco lost to the Buccaneers 30-19 with backup Mac Jones under center.
It’s safe to say the 49ers are a different team now after their fifth consecutive win Monday night. Purdy’s turf toe appears to be in the rearview mirror after throwing a career-high five touchdowns against the Colts — but that doesn’t mean the Panthers or Bucs would be an easy opponent by any means.
San Francisco will get an up-close look at another potential playoff opponent in Week 17 when they face a red-hot Chicago Bears team on “Sunday Night Football” at Levi’s Stadium.
There still is a chance the 49ers could have a first-round bye in the postseason, too, if they defeat the Bears and then their NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks in Week 18 to take the division title and the conference’s No. 1 seed.
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